Bonsai Tree Guide

Quite simply, bonsai (pronounced 'bone sigh') is the practice of growing trees in pots. It combines both horticultural and artistic skills. The bonsai is intended to be a miniature of a fully-grown, mature tree. The translation of the Japanese word 'bonsai' is literally 'tree in a pot'. There is good evidence that many cultures – Egyptian, Indian, Chinese, Japanese - began doing this long ago, but the Japanese are credited with refining this activity to the art form it is today. Virtually very country in the world has practitioners of this ancient art. Many public gardens and arboretums have displays of bonsai, and most major cities have a local bonsai club. The same word 'bonsai' is used both for singular and plural, similar to our English words 'sheep' and 'fish'. Contrary to what many people think, bonsai is not a specific tree species. Bonsai can be created from many varieties of trees, shrubs, and vines.