Bonsai is not a species. Almost any tree or woody shrub can be grown as a bonsai, but trees fall into a few practical groups. Knowing which group your tree belongs to tells you where it should live and how to care for it.
Indoor bonsai
Indoor bonsai are tropical and subtropical trees that can handle the steady temperatures inside a home. Popular choices include ficus, jade, Fukien tea, dwarf schefflera and Chinese elm. They still need a lot of light, so place them in your brightest window or under a grow light, and raise the humidity in dry, heated rooms.
Read more: best bonsai trees to grow indoors.
Outdoor bonsai
Most classic bonsai are outdoor trees: juniper, pine, Japanese maple, elm, azalea and many more. These temperate species need the change of seasons, including a cool winter rest, so they do poorly indoors. In very cold climates, protect the pots from deep freezes by sheltering them near a wall, in an unheated shed or under mulch.
Tropical bonsai
Tropical bonsai come from warm regions and cannot tolerate frost. They grow year-round when kept warm and bright, which makes them forgiving for beginners. Ficus, bougainvillea, Brazilian rain tree and Fukien tea are common examples. In warm summers they benefit from time outdoors.
Read more: best tropical bonsai trees.
Deciduous bonsai
Deciduous trees drop their leaves in autumn and grow new ones in spring. Japanese maple, trident maple, elm, beech and hornbeam are favorites because of their autumn color and the fine branch structure you can see in winter. They are almost always grown outdoors.
Browse: deciduous bonsai guides.
Evergreen and conifer bonsai
Evergreens keep their foliage all year. Junipers and pines are the best known, and they are among the most traditional bonsai subjects. They love full sun, need very free-draining soil and are styled mainly with wire and careful pinching.
Browse: evergreen bonsai guides, juniper bonsai and pine bonsai.
Flowering and fruiting bonsai
Azalea, bougainvillea, wisteria, cherry, crabapple and pomegranate are grown for their flowers or small fruit. They need careful timing: pruning at the wrong moment can remove next season’s flower buds, and they usually need more feeding than foliage trees.
Read more: best flowering indoor bonsai trees.
How to choose your first bonsai
- No garden or balcony? Choose an indoor tropical tree such as ficus or jade.
- Have outdoor space? A juniper or Chinese elm is hardy and easy to learn on.
- Want seasonal color? Try a Japanese maple, grown outside.
Next step: our bonsai care basics.