The Latest Bonsai and Japanese Garden Books Review 2024

Bonsai culture is incredibly spread throughout the world. From Russia to India, many people share a common interest in the fascinating Bonsai culture. Politics fails big time whereas Bonsai enthusiastic culture manages to unite the world. As time goes by, I have been reading many books on bonsai. From seed, planting, and cultivation, there is a sea of information and enrichment that one can get by reading and understanding the differences of various trees. Some like it hot, some humid, and some others dry. As this blog post gets regularly updated, please scroll to find the latest books always at the bottom.

The best is to start with a book for beginners edited by Bonsai Empire. Well, the Bonsai guide for beginners is the right choice for those who intend to enter the world of Bonsai. It all starts from nursing and watering the tree down to explanation on how to stimulate growth and upkeep. It covers the basic techniques, well illustrated with over a hundred images, and explains everything you need to know in an understandable way. The images are of great quality. The information is very useful. Many members of my bonsai society have recommended and referenced from this book. Inspirational and informative!

Going into pro territories, i would recommend the latest book Bonsai with Japanese Maples by Peter Adams. This exclusive book is for those who love Japanese Maples. Everything about bonsai with Japanese maples. Step by step on how to prune different styles. How to thicken trunks and many other tips. The examples of How-to's are colored line drawings and there are many color pictures of Japanese maples. I have used his examples on how to thicken several trunks, on how to shape/prune young trees. I use it as a reference every Spring when I re-pot and prune my maples.

Over the years, Japanese gardeners have fine-tuned a distinctive set of pruning techniques that coax out the essential characters of their garden trees, or niwaki. In this highly practical book, Western gardeners are encouraged to draw upon the techniques and sculpt their own garden trees to unique effect.Clearly illustrated for the gardener and arborist who is keen to adapt the plants of their native gardens into the traditional styles of the classical Japanese garden, as well as create their own traditional garden. This is an excellent hands on reference book with species lists, inspiring photography, as well as an interest book for those curious about the traditional horticulture of Japanese gardens. The principles can be applied to gardens throughout the western world.

Another masterpiece written by Jake Hobson is a book called The Art of Creative Pruning. Drawing on both eastern and western styles, author Jake Hobson moves beyond the traditional lollipops and animals and teaches a wholly new approach to ornamental pruning that appeals to modern sensibilities. Have been a fan of topiaries for a long time. I am impressed with this beautiful book. Lots of inspiration and information, beautifully styled and photographed. If you like shaping and pruning your garden this is the book for you!

This book is a well written and explained book on the chinese art of bonsai. Penjing explaines a very detailed version of bonsai in China. I was very curious to determine the difference between Japanese Bonsai and Chinese Penjing. Most information or searches on the internet of "Penjing" leads you towards Japanese Saikei. The book is full of great information, and absolutely gorgeous pictures, which really capture the essence of Penjing. The pictures are beautiful and the text gives you and idea of how they were accomplished. If you are wondering what's the difference between Japanese and Chinese bonsai styles, this book may be an added value to clarify.

The bonsai survival manual is an excellent book written by Colin Lewis. The book is useful as a guide in general for buying, maintaining and problem solving. It's a book for people with at least few years of experience in bonsai. The book is in fact providing detailed profiles of 50 popular varieties of bonsai plants and trees, Lewis offers expert advice on selecting suitable species and step-by-step guidance on feeding, watering, shaping, maintaining proper temperatures, and troubleshooting common problems. The book is amazingly thorough. My only complaint is that I also bought a so-called money tree and it is not included in this book at all. This was not a huge problem as there are internet sites that talk about money trees. All in all I found this to be quite a valuable book and my tea tree seems to be doing quite well.

In The Secret Techniques of Bonsai, the author of the groundbreaking Bonsai With American Trees teams up with his son to offer not only the basics for creating perfect bonsai, but also secret techniques they’ve developed over years of careful work and observation. The Kawasumis provide detailed, easy-to-follow information about growing bonsai from seedlings or beginner plants; expert advice on shaping, pruning, training, grafting and re-potting trees; and new techniques for using tools. And, although the Kawasumi family is world renowned for their bonsai tool design, their instructions allow gardeners to improvise with other readily-accessible bonsai, gardening or even simple workshop tools. Step-by-step photographs accompany the text, many in full-color. Masakuni Kawasumi III, the first qualified tree doctor for bonsai in Japan, contributes his unique insights to make this an invaluable resource for beginners and experienced enthusiasts alike.

Bonsai and penjing enthusiasts will be inspired by a fresh approach to miniature landscapes presented by a master artist. Mountains in the Sea, The Vietnamese Miniature Landscape Art of Hon Non Bo. Connoisseurs of miniature landscapes have long studied and appreciated the arts of bonsai from Japan and penjing from China. Until very recently, however, few outside of Viet Nam have known of an equally distinguished and vibrant art form known as "Hon Non Bo," literally "mountainous island in the sea." While bearing some similarities to bonsai and penjing in its use of stones and trees, Han Non Bo is a unique discipline influenced by the landscape of Viet Nam with its mountains, coastal scenery, and lush vegetation. Culturally, Hon Non Bo reflects the ancient Vietnamese custom of worshipping stones, trees, and rivers. Practitioners of Hon Non Bo view their art as much more than a hobby; it is a creed or form of meditation that is distinctly Vietnamese. Mountains in the Sea will appeal to readers of many backgrounds.

The most comprehensive exploration of the art of the Japanese garden published to date, this book covers more than eight centuries of the history of this important genre. Author and garden designer Sophie Walker brings fresh insight to this subject, exploring the Japanese garden in detail through a series of essays and with 100 featured gardens, ranging from ancient Shinto shrines to imperial gardens and contemporary Zen designs. Leading artists, architects, and other cultural practitioners offer personal perspectives in newly commissioned essays. 

This beautiful, full-color, authoritative book presents, in a practical yet inspirational way, Dan Barton’s expert knowledge and two decades of research on the joy of Bonsai. He gives detailed step-by-step horticultural instructions and fascinating insight into the creative process of Bonsai and provides a genuine understanding of the subject. This book is definitely one of 2020 bestsellers by Dan Barton. 

Ken Norman has been growing bonsai for over 40 years, and with his wife Ann has been awarded six Gold Medals at the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show. A highly respected bonsai artist, Ken lectures on and demonstrates the art of bonsai all over the UK. The Complete Practical Book of Bonsai: The Essential Guide to the Selection, Cultivation and Presentation of Miniature Trees and Shrubs, with Over 800 Photographs

Peter Chan has been awarded twenty-one Chelsea Flower Show gold medals, a record among bonsai specialists. He is the author of eight bestselling books on bonsai and gardening, and his books have been translated into many languages. Chan lives in the United Kingdom, where he owns and operates a bonsai nursery. The art of growing and keeping miniature trees is one of Mr. Chan's detailed explanation. I would rather say, one of the master pieces that show multiple illustrations and details around miniature trees. 

One of the great Bonsai books written by Daiki Sato in 2020. A comprehensive guide to growing, pruning, wiring and caring for your Bonsai trees. Opening with a definition of bonsai shares the author’s concern for fine teaching: ‘Bonsai is a botanical art form used to cultivate small trees to the shape of larger trees. Although the roots of this horticultural practice originated with the Chinese art of penjing (tray planting), the Zen Buddhists of Japan laid the foundation for modern bonsai gardening more than a thousand years ago. The word bonsai in Japanese is made up of two parts: bon meaning “tray”, and sai meaning “Planting.” The literal translation of the word bonsai means “planted in a tray.”

The modern Bonsai practice is another masterpiece by Larry Morton. This book can be found in the upper price range but you will notice why once you flip through this book. The most current, useful information on growing Bonsai. Fresh, practical, definitive, comprehensive reference guide to the finest art of horticulture: growing miniature trees. Common sense bonsai answers separating myth from fact with depth and detail. Appropriate for both bonsai hobbyists and experienced practitioners. 

Among the first titles published in 1978, with more than 150,000 copies in print in three editions, Japanese Maples is a Timber Press classic. Japanese maples are unlike any other tree. They boast a remarkable diversity of color, form, and texture. As a result of hundreds of years of careful breeding, they take the center stage in any garden they are found. In the last decade, the number of Japanese maple cultivars available to gardeners has doubled and there is a pressing need for an up-to-date reference. This new fourth edition offers detailed descriptions of over 150 new introductions, updates to plant nomenclature, and new insights into established favorites.

The latest and amazing book of Bonsai written by Aiko Sato. With the practice of growing bonsai having benefits like being therapeutic and a great stress reliever, purifying the air in your home or living space, leaving you with a sense of accomplishment amongst other benefits, it's easy to see why the practice isn't going to die out anytime soon. In this comprehensive guide, you're going to be handed all the instruction and techniques you need to successfully grow a bonsai tree without fuss. With tips ranging from selecting your bonsai and caring for them, you'll become an expert in growing bonsai tree in no time. The intriguing history of the practice of growing bonsai that will probably blow your mind.Types of bonsai trees and how to figure out which specimen that's best for you or your next bonsai project.

Let Happy Bonsai guide you along the path to enlightenment, with care and display profiles for 40 top trees and fully illustrated step-by-steps of more than 20 bonsai techniques and styles. Find your perfect tree and discover how to prune, shape, and tend to its needs to create a beautiful living sculpture. Fall in love with this most meditative of garden crafts. The author Michael Tran owns and runs his own bonsai nursery in Germany, where he specializes in European bonsai species. Born in 1982, he began his bonsai training with Mr. Udo Fischer and had the chance to meet and learn from Japanese masters while under his wing. After two years he became self-taught, and his mastery of bonsai at a young age led him to be called a prodigy. Today he is honored to have some of Europe's oldest, prize-winning masterpieces in his care, which have been passed down to him from the first generation of European bonsai practitioners. Michael has published many articles in bonsai magazines and gives lectures, workshops, and demonstrations all over Europe.

One of the best and easy to understand bonsai book by Masao Hideyoshi. Straight forward to the point that as a beginner you may succeed or fail in your endeavor to Bonsai. This guide will help you in making choices in all aspects of Bonsai that make you more knowledgeable and learn. While there are some basics you need to learn to keep your Bonsai flourishing, it's not nearly as difficult as most believe. This book points you in the right direction to get you started and keep your Bonsai's thriving.

 

This note book is practical if you have more than one tree. Simply because the bonsai control sheet notebook helps Bonsai enthusiasts to keep record on wiring, pruning, fertilizers and watering and reporting. Basically it's all on record for each tree species. Every tree species has a different time line and also watering may be different too. Therefore it is vital to have the situation under control to avoid unnecessary pests or diseases that may occur if over watering etc. 

What is the fastest growing Bonsai ?

Classical cotoneaster dammeri, a fast-growing Bonsai

Keeping plants in the house, such as a bonsai tree, can be an inexpensive yet productive and rewarding hobby. House plants generally do not require a lot of maintenance, and can really spice up the atmosphere of your home. If you are aiming for speed in growing your bonsai tree, however, there are certain precautions and maintenance measures you can take in order to get your tree sprouting at the fastest rate it can. Bonsai growing has a lot to do with patience so I recommend you buy a full-grown bonsai or at least a pre-bonsai (a bonsai in its early stage). There are many cheap options out there. It'll be a rewarding experience because bonsai caring can be as fun as bonsai training. Fast-growing bonsai requires more care than slower-growing bonsai, including watering, pinching, and root pruning more often. These varieties of plants make shaping and twisting the bonsai much easier and the plants grow quickly enough to cover any trimming mistakes eg. Ancient Bristlecone and Bald Cypress (taxodium distichum).

An additional crucial factor is the environment such as sun, semi-shade, and level of humidity. The combination of these three crucial factors will determine the development of your bonsai. At the beginning, it's difficult to determine the progress observed by the naked eye but the end result will definitely make a difference.

Step 1

Place the planted bonsai tree in an area that receives direct sunlight for at least four hours each day. Experts at bonsaigardener.org estimate that bonsai thrives fastest and healthiest when it is kept at a temperature at or higher than 60 degrees Fahrenheit during the daylight hours.

Step 2

Water the bonsai tree every day, until the soil is moist to the touch. Bonsai trees grow fastest in soil that is kept moist at all times.

Step 3

Fertilize the bonsai plant every three weeks during the growing season, from early spring to later fall. Follow product instructions regarding dilution; be sure to dilute the fertilizer properly based on the size of the potting plant you used or else you risk burning the bonsai's roots with too much fertilizer.

Step 4

Re-pot your bonsai plant every two years in the spring, before the growing cycle begins again. Use the same type of soil and planting pot as you did before so that the bonsai is used to its surroundings. When replanting, trim at least a third of the roots from the end to make sure they are not crushed in the pot and are healthy to absorb nutrients. Depending on the size of the roots, you may need to trim more to fit it into the pot.

Step 5

Check your bonsai tree at each watering for signs of pest infestations. Because of the constant watering the plant needs, it easily attracts insects. Treat any signs of infestation with a small dose of pesticide.

Cotoneaster and ligustrum. Given some good growing conditions, these should be ready for a nice "mame" style in a year from planting a cutting. I planted a couple of hundreds of ligustrum and a few of cotoneaster cuttings last year (everything rooted because when 5 % of the first setup died before they rooted, I instantly had replaced those with new cuttings and they rooted too), and I'm amazed with their growing rate.

When a seedling sprouts, there is usually just a single growing tip. As long as that tip is growing well, no other tips develop until the plant is taller. Bonsai requires trees that have low branches and the standard method is to do a very early pinch to remove the primary growth tip to force new growth points.

This is drastic for plants and many die. But without this step, plants do not develop character. You can improve the success rate with very healthy vigorously growing plants. Grow a lot of plants, grow them in the best possible environments, then prune drastically for outstanding results!

Interesting Books on Bonsai can be found here:

The Complete Book of Bonsai --> I've been into bonsai for 25 years and this is the basic Bible for beginner and intermediate bonsai enthusiasts. It has an excellent section on techniques, including pruning, wiring and whatnot, and it has a large species-specific tree guide. If you're into bonsai and want only one book, this is it.

Indoor Bonsai The Great Selection --> Creating beautiful, healthy bonsai is a wonderful skill that anyone can learn, with a little time, patience, and this all-inclusive manual. With color photos and drawings to illustrate the points, it introduces all the cultivation techniques; offers expert advice on location, soil types, watering, and pest control; and provides intricate instruction on training the bonsai--including pruning, wiring and stretching it.

The Secret Techniques of Bonsai --> In The Secret Techniques of Bonsai, the author of the groundbreaking Bonsai With American Trees teams up with his son to offer not only the basics for creating perfect bonsai, but also secret techniques they’ve developed over years of careful work and observation.

Bonsai Survival Manual --> Problem solving when your Bonsai get sick. Expand your gardening repertoire as you create a captivating and exquisite miniature world. In this introductory guide, Colin Lewis covers everything you need to know to design, grow, and successfully maintain attractive bonsai.

Bonsai and the art of Penjing --> Bonsai & Penjing, Ambassadors of Beauty and Peace describes how Chinese penjing and North American bonsai were later added to the Museum, making its collection the most comprehensive in the world. Stories of individual trees and forest plantings are featured, as are the roles played by the skilled and talented creators of these living art forms people such as John Naka, Saburo Kato, Yuji Yoshimura, Harry Hirao, and Dr. Yee-Sun Wu.

Bonsai with Japanese Maples --> With their delicate foliage, seasonal color changes, and intricate pattern of branching, Japanese maples are among the most popular and suitable plants for bonsai design. In this long-awaited book, internationally renowned expert Peter Adams discusses both the specific horticultural needs of Japanese maples as bonsai subjects and illustrates proven techniques for creating and maintaining beautiful specimens.

The Modern Bonsai Practice --> The most current, useful information on growing Bonsai. Fresh, practical, definitive, comprehensive reference guide to the finest art of horticulture: growing miniature trees. Common sense bonsai answers separating myth from fact with depth and detail. Appropriate for both bonsai hobbyists and experienced practitioners.

More Bonsai articles can be found here:

Please click here for more information on --> Chinese Penjing Bonsai

Please click here for more information on --> The Origins of Bonsai

Please click here for more information on --> The Art of Saikei Bonsai

Please click here for more information on --> Japanese Tanuki Bonsai

Please click here for more information on --> How to Water a Bonsai

Please click here for more information on --> Bonsai Healing Methods

Please click here for more information on --> Bonsai Books Review

Thank you for visiting my blog and feel free to subscribe or leave your message at the comment section below. Please always remember, good feedback or bad remarks, it doesn't matter!

The Origins of Bonsai

What do you do when you live in a country with limited space but want to exercise your green fingers or express your love, and even your spiritual reverence, for nature? Well, you can always do things in miniature - ikebana and bonsai are your two main options. Though the word 'ikebana' literally means 'living flowers', it is actually the visual presentation of cut stems, flowers, and other features to represent an aspect of nature in miniature. Bonsai, on the other hand, means 'pot plant' and the art form involves raising living trees, often over a period of several years. While they are small, bonsai are not actually different from the trees we see around us, they are not miniature species. Rather they are small branches of a tree, carefully chosen, pruned, and cultivated so that they look like smaller versions of their own species. They are also displayed in a way that shows off their best features, usually in a simple, shallow pot. Bonsai is about the combination of the plant and the pot. There are many different styles of bonsai such as: broom style - a tapered trunk topped by a symmetrical area ofSaikei is similar to and often confused with bonsai, but is actually closer to ikebana. Different species of small trees as well as other plants, rocks and sand are used to create miniature landscapes.

Classical Japanese Bonsai Paintings

Foliage; cascading style - the pot is kept on a platform and the branches 'cascade' down below it; windswept style - resembles a tree that has grown up in an area exposed to strong winds.

Gardening in many forms has been enjoying something of a boom in Japan in recent years and those with limited space have been rediscovering the charms and challenges of this part of their native culture. As I said, bonsai are real trees in miniature and are not usually suitable as houseplants (some species have been developed for indoors). Usually, they are hardy and can handle most weather. In fact, their growth may be adversely affected by artificial (ie. indoor) light and heat conditions, depending on your climate and the origin of the tree species. 

Even a small city apartment balcony can be big enough to build up a collection, something of an oasis for many urban dwellers. The smallest of bonsai, called mame (bean) can be just a couple of inches tall and a collection may also have trees a couple of feet high. The most popular are about 6 inches to a foot.

For the more serious gardener, it is possible to grow bonsai from seeds, cuttings, a branch while it is still on a living tree, or even prune and adapt a tree from a garden center. But these are long and laborious processes, taking several years before you have any kind of 'finished product'. Indeed some of the most prized bonsai have been around a lot longer than their owners. Some enthusiasts go to great expense to buy bonsai from dealers but if you just want to dabble or test the waters, it is possible to start off with a good guidebook and a domestic plant (cheaper than imports) from a hobby or gardening shop for just a few thousand yen. I watched a program on TV last night where bonsai amateurs had to guess the values of various high-quality specimens. The most expensive looked similar to the one in the photo above and was valued at over 5.5 million yen (almost 50,000 dollars!). Special qualities that made that particular specimen so valuable included the unusual (for the species) thickness of its trunk and branches and its old age.

In a nutshell - how the art of Bonsai started

The history of bonsai (pronounced bon-sigh) is cloaked in the mist of the past but it is now widely accepted that it was the Chinese who first created the miniature landscapes and trees that we now know as bonsai.

In Japanese, bonsai can be literally translated as "tray planting", but since originating in Asia so many centuries ago - it has developed into a whole new form. Called penjing by the Chinese, bonsai was believed to have had its start in the Han Dynasty. In this essay, I will discuss some of the legends and facts surrounding the beginning of bonsai. One of the earliest Chinese legends contends that it was in the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. - 220 A.D.) that an emperor created a landscape in his courtyard complete with hills, valleys, rivers, lakes and trees that represented his entire empire. He created the landscape so that he could gaze upon his entire empire from his palace window. This landscape form of art was also his alone to possess. It was said that anyone else found in possession of even a miniature landscape was seen as a threat to his empire and put to death. 

Another Chinese legend relating to the beginnings of bonsai points to the fourth century A.D. Chinese poet and civil servant named Guen-ming. It's believed that after his retirement he began growing chrysanthemums in pots. Some historians believe this was a step towards the beginning of bonsai in the Tang dynasty some 200 years later. The earliest documented proof of bonsai was discovered in 1972 in the tomb of Prince Zhang Huai, of the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 A.D.) who died in 706 A.D. Two wall paintings discovered in the tomb show servants carrying plants resembling bonsai. In one of the paintings a servant is seen carrying a miniature landscape and in the other painting, a servant is shown carrying a pot containing a tree. 

Bonsai comes to Japan 

Even though it's the Japanese who get most of the credit for bonsai, it wasn't until the Heian period (794 - 1191A.D.) that Buddhist monks brought bonsai to the island. For many years following the arrival of bonsai, the art was practiced by only the wealthy and thus came to be known as a nobleman privilege. The fact that the art of bonsai was limited to the noble class almost caused the art to die out in Japan. It was with the Chinese invasion of Japan in the fourteenth century that the art of bonsai started to be practiced by people of all classes. Once the art was practiced by all classes, bonsai began to grow in popularity in Japan. The Chinese influence on the early bonsai masters is apparent since the Japanese still use the same characters to represent bonsai as the Chinese. After the establishment of bonsai in Japan, the Japanese went to great lengths to refine the art and a lot of credit must go to these early bonsai masters. The refinements that they developed have made bonsai what it is today.

Bonsai Comes West 

The earliest bonsai to come to the West came mostly from Japan and China. The showing of bonsai at the Third Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1878 and later exhibitions in 1889 and 1900 increased Western interest in bonsai and opened the door for the first major bonsai exhibit held in London in 1909. In these early years, many Westerners felt that the trees looked tortured and many openly voiced their displeasure with the way the trees were being treated by bonsai masters. It wasn't until 1935 that opinions changed and bonsai was finally classified as an art in the West. With the end of World War II, bonsai started to gain in popularity in the West. It was the soldiers returning from Japan with bonsai in towns that sparked Western interest in the art, even though most of the trees brought home by these soldiers died a short time after their arrival. They survived long enough to create a desire in Westerners to learn more about the proper care of their bonsai. 

The large Japanese-American population was invaluable to Americans in this respect. Their knowledge of the art of bonsai was of great interest ot many Americans learning the art. Today, bonsai are sold in department stores, garden centers, nurseries, and many other places. However, most of these are young cuttings or starts and not the true bonsai produced by bonsai masters. Most trees purchased today are known as pre-bonsai and are for the most part only used as a starting point. To create a true bonsai work of art you need to learn as much as possible about the art and the trees you use. Information is your key to success and it is important to read as much as possible. It is also a good idea to join a local bonsai club so you are able to discuss the subject with experienced bonsai enthusiasts. As your knowledge and confidence grow, creating your own bonsai works of art will become easier and your enjoyment of bonsai will grow.

Interesting Books on Bonsai can be found here:

The Complete Book of Bonsai --> I've been into bonsai for 25 years and this is the basic Bible for beginner and intermediate bonsai enthusiasts. It has an excellent section on techniques, including pruning, wiring and whatnot, and it has a large species-specific tree guide. If you're into bonsai and want only one book, this is it.

Indoor Bonsai The Great Selection --> Creating beautiful, healthy bonsai is a wonderful skill that anyone can learn, with a little time, patience, and this all-inclusive manual. With color photos and drawings to illustrate the points, it introduces all the cultivation techniques; offers expert advice on location, soil types, watering, and pest control; and provides intricate instruction on training the bonsai--including pruning, wiring and stretching it.

The Secret Techniques of Bonsai --> In The Secret Techniques of Bonsai, the author of the groundbreaking Bonsai With American Trees teams up with his son to offer not only the basics for creating perfect bonsai, but also secret techniques they’ve developed over years of careful work and observation.

Bonsai Survival Manual --> Problem solving when your Bonsai gets sick. Expand your gardening repertoire as you create a captivating and exquisite miniature world. In this introductory guide, Colin Lewis covers everything you need to know to design, grow, and successfully maintain attractive bonsai.

Bonsai and the art of Penjing --> Bonsai & Penjing, Ambassadors of Beauty and Peace describe how Chinese penjing and North American bonsai were later added to the Museum, making its collection the most comprehensive in the world. Stories of individual trees and forest plantings are featured, as are the roles played by the skilled and talented creators of these living art forms people such as John Naka, Saburo Kato, Yuji Yoshimura, Harry Hirao, and Dr. Yee-Sun Wu.

Bonsai with Japanese Maples --> With their delicate foliage, seasonal color changes, and intricate pattern of branching, Japanese maples are among the most popular and suitable plants for bonsai design. In this long-awaited book, internationally renowned expert Peter Adams discusses both the specific horticultural needs of Japanese maples as bonsai subjects and illustrates proven techniques for creating and maintaining beautiful specimens.

The Modern Bonsai Practice --> The most current, useful information on growing Bonsai. Fresh, practical, definitive, comprehensive reference guide to the finest art of horticulture: growing miniature trees. Common sense bonsai answers separating myth from fact with depth and detail. Appropriate for both bonsai hobbyists and experienced practitioners.

More Bonsai articles can be found here:


Please click here for more information on --> Chinese Penjing Bonsai
Please click here for more information on --> The Art of Saikei Bonsai
Please click here for more information on --> Japanese Tanuki Bonsai
Please click here for more information on --> How to Water a Bonsai
Please click here for more information on --> Bonsai Healing Methods

      Japanese Av Star

The Art of Saikei 栽景 - Planted Landscape

Saikei consists of two Japanese words, 'Sai' meaning a plant and 'Kei' meaning a view or a scene. Another way of describing this subject from a Chinese point of view is a Penjing Landscape, or rock, water, or land planting. And to confuse you even mere another name is Bonkei. Don’t get me to explain that one! Saikei is a descendant of the Japanese arts of bonsai, bonseki, and bonkei, and is related less directly to similar miniature-landscape arts like the Chinese penjing and the Vietnamese hòn non bộ.

It is the art of creating tray landscapes that combine miniature living trees with soil, rocks, water, and related vegetation (like ground cover) in a single tray or similar container. A saikei landscape will remind the viewer of a natural location through its overall topography, choice of ground materials, and the species used in its plantings.

Unlike bonsai this style gives you the opportunity to play with cuttings and seedlings. You can also use developed smaller bonsai. In addition to this you can also work with small stones and rocks. As this material is within everyone’s reach Saikei can be the perfect starting point for aspiring new enthusiasts. The art of Sakei became popular in the US around 1960 but it was already known since some early Chinese settlers came to america to build the railroad.

Saikei is planted up in a shallow tray. This is usually a rectangular or oval shape. You can also use very flat rocks. The best colour for the base is earth tones for a natural look.

Your main objective in creating a Saikei (or any other name that you choose) is to imitate a landscape

Moss Spores used for Bonsai landscaping

in nature. For this of course one has to understand nature just like in bonsai. This time you have to observe the total scene in the environment, not just what the environment has done to the tree. It is a good idea to observe rocky scenes, mountain sides, and coastal scenery to get a feel for this style. Observe how the trees grow and the direction and shape of the rocks.

Creation of a Sake can be done with the same species of trees or a mixed variety. Make sure the leaves are small. Some can have berries or flowers. lf a variety of plant types are used make sure they are in harmony with each other, for example colour and texture, if you want your Sake to appear realistic. If you choose small young trees you will get the chance to explore shaping and arranging without the expense of large expensive trees.

Stones and rocks can be included. Make sure they have interesting shapes. Rough and jagged surfaces are better than smooth shiny ones. The stones must be all of a similar type and texture and be a variety of sizes. For example a stone with a white streak down the side of it can be used to create a waterfall or an arched rock could be a seaside cave- Fine gravel is also used for pathways and seaside scenes.

Grasses and mosses are also an important component. These are best being very small in leaf and fine in texture. Different types and colours of moss can be used to create texture.

Figurines of animals, bridges, people, boats and pavilions can also be added. These add interest and can personalise your Sake. It must be remembered though to keep these additions in proportion.

So if you want to create something truly memorable get together the following; flat rectangular or oval tray, or large flat rock. A selection of rocks and gravel. moss, grasses and last but not least a selection of small trees and have a go. Bring your creation to your next bonsai club meeting for discussion.

Saikei History

To better understand the art of saikei, we have to go back in it's history. The school of saikei was founded in Japan by Toshio Kawamoto after World War II. Kawamoto was born in 1917, the eldest child of the bonsai master Tokichi Kawamoto, and was trained in the art of bonsai. In 1960, following

his father's death, he ran the family bonsai nursery Meiju-En. He actively promoted the practice of saikei after this time, publishing two seminal books on saikei (Bonsai-Saikei and Saikei: Living Landscapes in Miniature) and participating in the creation of the Nippon Bonsai-Saikei Institute and the Nippon Saikei Association.

At the time Kawamoto began developing the rules and form of Saikei, the practice of bonsai was at a critical low point in Japan. The labor-intensive cultivation of bonsai had been near impossible under wartime conditions. Many bonsai, in development or completed, had died in the nation's major collections, as well as in the gardens of individuals across the country. Post-war economic conditions made the purchase and cultivation of a real bonsai almost impossible for average Japanese households.

Kawamoto created a simple form of tree display providing many of the aesthetic and contemplative qualities of bonsai, while also supporting the cultivation of plant stock that could eventually be used as bonsai material. He based this art form mainly on the principles of group plantings from bonsai and rock displays from bonkei and bonseki. His original objective was to age and thicken up the trunks of young nursery stock. Saikei was a way for inexpensive plants and stones to be brought together in a pleasing arrangement, easily accessible to the average person. As a saikei specimen aged, it would produce candidate bonsai trees, which could be removed from the saikei for cultivation as bonsai.

As a relatively young art form, Japanese saikei does not have deep traditions of its own. But it is related to a number of older confined-landscape forms popular in Asia, including Japan's bonkei, the Chinese art of penjing, and the Vietnamese art of hòn non bộ. The term penjing applies both to individual trees growing in containers, similar to bonsai, and also to detailed miniature landscapes which include trees, other plants, rocks, soil, water, and miniature figurines of people, animals, and other items. Similarly, hòn non bộ emphasizes the creation of stylized miniature islands projecting from a body of water and carrying a burden of trees and other plants.

In post-war Japan, saikei was seen as an environmentally and economically responsible way to propagate trees for eventual use in bonsai. Even economically constrained individuals or families could enjoy many of the contemplative and aesthetic benefits of bonsai, without incurring the effort and the costs related to mature bonsai specimens. The same benefits accrue to saikei today.

The ancient art of Bonsai landscaping 1974

More Interesting Books on Bonsai can be found here:

The Complete Book of Bonsai --> I've been into bonsai for 25 years and this is the basic Bible for beginner and intermediate bonsai enthusiasts. It has an excellent section on techniques, including pruning, wiring and whatnot, and it has a large species-specific tree guide. If you're into bonsai and want only one book, this is it.

Indoor Bonsai The Great Selection --> Creating beautiful, healthy bonsai is a wonderful skill that anyone can learn, with a little time, patience, and this all-inclusive manual. With color photos and drawings to illustrate the points, it introduces all the cultivation techniques; offers expert advice on location, soil types, watering, and pest control; and provides intricate instruction on training the bonsai--including pruning, wiring and stretching it.

The Secret Techniques of Bonsai --> In The Secret Techniques of Bonsai, the author of the groundbreaking Bonsai With American Trees teams up with his son to offer not only the basics for creating perfect bonsai, but also secret techniques they’ve developed over years of careful work and observation.

Bonsai Survival Manual --> Problem solving when your Bonsai get sick. Expand your gardening repertoire as you create a captivating and exquisite miniature world. In this introductory guide, Colin Lewis covers everything you need to know to design, grow, and successfully maintain attractive bonsai.

Bonsai and the art of Penjing --> Bonsai & Penjing, Ambassadors of Beauty and Peace describes how Chinese penjing and North American bonsai were later added to the Museum, making its collection the most comprehensive in the world. Stories of individual trees and forest plantings are featured, as are the roles played by the skilled and talented creators of these living art forms people such as John Naka, Saburo Kato, Yuji Yoshimura, Harry Hirao, and Dr. Yee-Sun Wu.

Bonsai with Japanese Maples --> With their delicate foliage, seasonal color changes, and intricate pattern of branching, Japanese maples are among the most popular and suitable plants for bonsai design. In this long-awaited book, internationally renowned expert Peter Adams discusses both the specific horticultural needs of Japanese maples as bonsai subjects and illustrates proven techniques for creating and maintaining beautiful specimens.

The Modern Bonsai Practice --> The most current, useful information on growing Bonsai. Fresh, practical, definitive, comprehensive reference guide to the finest art of horticulture: growing miniature trees. Common sense bonsai answers separating myth from fact with depth and detail. Appropriate for both bonsai hobbyists and experienced practitioners.

More Bonsai articles can be found here:


Please click here for more information on --> Chinese Penjing Bonsai
Please click here for more information on --> The Origins of Bonsai
Please click here for more information on --> The Art of Saikei Bonsai
Please click here for more information on --> Japanese Tanuki Bonsai
Please click here for more information on --> How to Water a Bonsai
Please click here for more information on --> Bonsai Healing Methods