10 Types of Bonsai Trees for Beginners

If you've ever marveled over a bonsai tree, you probably assumed it's an art best left to the experts. And while it does take some patience and rule following, bonsai is absolutely beginner friendly, especially when you start with the right type of bonsai tree and have friends to chat with when you need advice—which is also part of the fun of practicing this ancient art form.

How to Learn Bonsai

Bonsai is an ancient growing method that involves trimming and pruning miniature trees to look full-sized—and almost any branching tree can be trained as a bonsai. Whether you've been practicing for a while or are just getting started, Jennifer Price, a professional bonsai artist based in Chicago, recommends connecting with a nearby club through the American Bonsai Society. You're never too inexperienced to join, she says. "When I teach throughout the country, what I notice is how warm and welcoming clubs are to new people. And a lot of clubs have mentorship programs," she says.

Based in Southern California, Michael Roberts, a respected bonsai artist and the president of the Golden State Bonsai Federation, also leads bonsai workshops. Trained as a sculptor and painter, Roberts loves showing others the patient practice of "growing your own little tree that tells a story"—often a story of hardships overcome, which artists create by carefully stripping branches ("jin") and sections of trunk ("shari").

Bonsai Trees Are Best Grown Outdoors

The biggest surprise to most newcomers is that bonsai trees aren't indoor trees. "The rule number one is that bonsai trees grow outdoors," Roberts says, explaining that outdoor trees make the best bonsai candidates but also need to be grown outside to maintain their health and strength. The way you care for your bonsai tree will depend on where you live and what type of tree you choose. Generally speaking, all bonsai trees require protection from extreme weather, and deciduous bonsai trees need a period of dormancy.

Northern bonsai artists manage this by placing their trees in an unheated garage or structure or in a cold frame on a protected side of the house with a bed of mulch for protection against wind and winter's coldest temperatures, says Price. Dormant trees only need water when soil dries out and should be kept cool, even on warm winter days.

While you can purchase a bonsai tree at big box stores, a dedicated bonsai nursery is the best place to start, our experts say. Here are their recommendations for types of bonsai trees that work well for beginners.

01 of 10

Bald Cypress

Artists value Taxodium distichum for its "cypress knees," or woody structures above the root system, and distinctive flat upper canopy. Its soft green needles evolve to spectacular shades of yellow and auburn in autumn before shedding for the winter.

While it's a great choice for bonsai beginners in warmer climates, you'll find it more challenging if your temperatures drop below 25 degrees Fahrenheit. "People up North do have them, but in winter you've got to go through some pretty rigorous setups to keep that tree happy," Price says.

Zones: 5 to 10; provide winter care appropriate for your location
Watering: water frequently to keep soil moist to wet, and use a humidity tray, especially in summer
Soil: moist, acidic soil
Light: sun

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02 of 10

Bougainvillea

This evergreen shrub grows quickly and tolerates pruning well, making it a good beginner option. It also erupts in magenta, purple, yellow, or red flowers, adding a super showy dynamic to your bonsai art.

Zones: 9 to 11; provide winter care appropriate for your location
Watering: keep soil evenly moist but not soggy in summer; water deeply and allow to dry out between waterings
Soil: rich, well-draining soil
Light: full sun

03 of 10

Boxwood

With its hardy growth habits and high trimming tolerance, Buxos is an excellent type of bonsai tree for beginners. It also has the small leaves, fissured bark, twisted branches, and shallow surface roots that lend themselves to the art form. "With patience and time, you can create little miniature 'oaks' out of boxwoods," Roberts says. "And it's a fairly inexpensive material to start with."

Zones: 6 to 8; provide protection from wind; provide winter care appropriate for your location
Watering: water deeply, allowing soil to dry slightly between waterings
Soil: loamy, well-draining soil
Light: sun (with dappled afternoon shade) to part shade

04 of 10

Chinese Elm

Also known as the Lacebark elm, Ulmus parvifolia thrives indoors and out and adapts well to pruning and shaping, making it a good option for both beginners and experienced artists. Its bark displays a good deal of character, with shades of gray, brown, green, and gray adding interest to the plant's rounded shape.

Zones: 4 to 9; provide winter care appropriate for your location
Watering: water infrequently but deeply
Soil: well-draining soil
Light: sun or partial shade

05 of 10

Crape Myrtle

Another good beginner tree, Lagerstroemia indica is relatively easy to train and care for. "It gets cool little flowers in late summer, and it has what I would call almost a translucent bark that's green and red and tan, all at the same time. It's really gorgeous," says Roberts.

Zones: 6 to 9; provide winter care appropriate for your location
Watering: water frequently and use a humidity tray in summer; limit water during winter dormancy
Soil: rich, well-draining soil
Light: sun

06 of 10

Desert Rose

Native to tropical Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, succulent Adenium obesum is a forgiving beginner bonsai tree. Price loves its stunning bell-shaped flowers, which you can find in red, pink, or purple. A bulbous trunk, twisted branches, and gray-green leaves add character.

Zones: 11 to 12; provide winter care appropriate for your location
Watering: water infrequently, allowing soil to dry out a bit between waterings.
Soil: sandy, well-draining soil
Light: sun to part-shade

07 of 10

Ficus

Among the most popular trees for Bonsai beginners, Ficus is hardy and tolerant of lower light. It's also less meticulous about watering than other bonsai varieties. One of its best qualities: aerial, or above-ground, roots "that are very Jurassic Park-looking," Price says. "They're what you might see if you were walking through a tropical forest region in India or in Asia and saw this tree in nature."

Small leaves also help give a Ficus bonsai the appearance of a giant tree in miniature.

Zones: 6 through 11; appreciates being outdoors in summer but can be grown indoors year-round with proper lighting; provide winter care appropriate for your location
Watering: keep soil moist; boost humidity to develop aerial roots
Soil: rich, well-draining soil
Light: bright, indirect to partial sun

08 of 10

Juniper

Junipers are a popular type of bonsai tree for beginners because they respond well to pruning and aging techniques, Price and Roberts say. Another plus: No matter where you live in the U.S., you can probably find a juniper that will do well in your climate. Foliage comes in two distinctive types: needle-like and scale.

Zones: 3 through 9; provide winter care appropriate for your location
Water: water frequently but allow soil to dry between waterings
Soil: rich, well-draining, loose soil
Light: bright, indirect light

09 of 10

Rosemary

This hardy, popular herb works surprisingly well for bonsai, and its ability to take a lot of pruning makes it a great choice for beginners. Its fibrous bark sheds a bit, giving the plant the distinctive and desired old-tree look, and its blue-green foliage has a pleasant evergreen scent when trimmed.

Zones: 8 to 10; prefers a dry environment at 55 to 85 degrees, but can take heat; provide winter care appropriate for your location
Watering: water when the top inch or two of soil is dry, keeping soil moist but never soggy
Soil: sandy, well-draining soil
Light: sun

10 of 10

Trident Maple

Native to China and Japan, Acer buergerianum makes a good beginner bonsai. "They are vigorous and can build a fat trunk, quickly giving the appearance of character and age," Price says. Small leaves and a rough trunk also make it a popular choice, she adds. This tree also tolerates pruning well, accepts imperfect watering, and isn't hard to overwinter. Adding to your art, its deep green leaves will evolve to orange and red in fall.

Zones: 4 to 9; provide winter care appropriate for your location
Watering: water daily in summer, less in other seasons
Soil: any good quality, well-draining potting soil
Light: sun with afternoon shade to protect from scorching, especially in hot regions

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