The Most Popular Bonsai Trees

• The Chinese elm is a popular bonsai tree. Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

  The tradition of bonsai cultivation has thrived within Asian culture for many centuries, and over time, several tree species have emerged as the more popular choices for bonsai. The trees that bonsai enthusiasts and beginners prefer tend to be visually striking and easy to shape and take care of. Experienced bonsai cultivators enjoy other species of bonsai trees because of the challenge they bring about.

Chinese Elm

• Ulmus parvifolia ranks is one of the most popular bonsai trees for cultivators. The tree, when grown in the wild, grows to between 40 and 50 feet tall. It grows natively in China, Korea and Japan but is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9 within the United States, according to Floridata. The bark of the tree comes in shares of gray, green, orange and brown. As a bonsai tree, it can be grown and cared for inside, growing only a fraction of the size as it would in the wild. The Hokkaido cultivar, for instance, grows only about one foot tall. It needs moist soil year-round, according to Bonsai Gardener. Full sun or full shade are both tolerable for this plant.

Bald Cypress

• Taxodium distichum features among the most popular bonsai trees because of its aesthetics and its ease of care. Natively, the bald cypress grows within the southeastern United States, within USDA hardiness zones 5 through 10, according to Floridata. They prefer swampy areas as well as lakes and river edges. In the wild, the bald cypress tree can grow up to 130 feet tall. The bark of the tree is brown or gray with red mixed in. Bald cypress trees prefer full sunlight but can handle some partial shade. Soil for the bald cypress should be kept as wet as possible for best growth, although the tree is capable of living in dry soil. The smaller bonsai version grows slowly and prefers being outdoors. The Bonsai Gardener website recommends beginners tackle bald cypresses for their first bonsai.

Juniper

• Juniperus represents a genus of conifer trees which work well for bonsai cultivation. Juniper trees are non-flowering evergreens but create hard-shelled seeds to help seed dispersal, according to the Gymnosperm Database. They grow mainly within the northern hemisphere natively, with some species, such as Juniperus scopulorum, reaching 2,000 years old. Wood and oil from juniper trees have uses such as perfumery or medicinal. Bonsai cultivators enjoy using juniper trees for bonsai because the trees respond well to most pruning and reshaping training put forth, according to Bonsai Gardener. The hardiness of the trees allows them to live easily outdoors or indoors.

Japanese Black Pine

• Pinus thunbergii grows natively in Japan and South Korea, according to the Gymnosperm Database. Within the United States, it grows well within USDA hardiness zone 6. Upon maturity in the wild, the Japanese black pine grows up to 130 feet tall. The wild population of the Japanese black pine faces declining numbers thanks to pine wilt disease as well as increased air pollution. The tree commonly features as an ornamental species, and the wood of the tree is used within Japanese architecture. The Bonsai Gardener website praises the Japanese black pine for its hardiness and versatility.