Many trees and shrubs are suitable for traditional bonsai. Good starter stock can be found at a local nursery, Lowes, Home Depot, your own back yard, or a neighbors for that matter. (please ask before digging) Specialty nurseries often have a wide selection of dwarf and semi dwarf varieties of many species. Dwarf plants, however, do not always convey the same impression as their full size counterparts because their growth habits are quite different. Azalea, beech, boxwood, ginkgo, maple, oak, juniper, pine, wisteria, and zelkova all make good subjects.

Not sure which plant goes with what style of bonsai? Here is a recent post showing the five basic bonsai styles using real trees.(this link will open in a new window, just “x” it out when you are through) Here is a partial list of some trees and shrubs along with their scientific names, that work well as bonsai.

AZALEA:
Hiryu, Rhododendron obtusum
Indica azalea, Rhododendron indicum
Kurume, Rhododendron obtusum

BEECH:
American, Fagus grandifolia
European, Fagus sylvatica

BIRCH:
White, Betula papyrifera or B. pendula

BOXWOOD:
Buxus species

FIRETHORN:
Pyracantha species

GINKGO:
Ginkgo biloba

HAWTHORN:
English, Crataegus laevigata
Washington, Crataegus phaenopyrum

MAPLE:
Amur, Acer ginnala
edge, Acer campestre
Trident, Acer buergeranum

OAK:
English, Quercus robur
Pin, Quercus palustris
Scarlet, Quercus coccinea
White, Quercus alba

JUNIPER:
Foemina, Juniperus chinensis var. foemina
California, Juniperus california carriere
Prostrate, Juniperus squamata var. prostrata
Sargent’s,
Juniperus chinensis sargentii

PINE:
Bristlecone, Pinus aristata
Japanese white, Pinus parviflora
Japanese black, Pinus thunbergiana
Mugo, Pinus Mugo
Swiss stone, Pinus cembra
White, Pinus strobus

WISTERIA:
Japanese, Wisteria floribunda

YEW:
Taxus species and cultivars

ZELKOVA:
Japanese Zelkova, Zelkova serrata