Styling your bonsai tree is one of the most important and rewarding parts of owning one. Deciding on the style and figuring out how to achieve it can be challenging, as there are so many different bonsai styles out there. So let’s narrow it down.
Traditionally, there are 5 main styles that bonsai trees fall into, but this is not to say they are the only styles. There are many more. We will go over the traditional styles as well as some of the non-traditional which have been becoming more popular over the past few hundred years (It’s an old art!)
Below is a list of the most common bonsai styles today. We will go over each and provide examples so you can get a better idea of which style you should choose for your bonsai tree!
- Traditional Bonsai Styles
- Newer Bonsai Styles
- PenJing Bonsai Styles
Chokkan Style Bonsai
(Formal Upright)
This is the original bonsai style. It’s not the easiest to perfect, but it’s stunning when done correctly. In Chokkan style. The branches spiral up the tree, each consecutive branch graduating at equal distances. For best results, use the Golden Ratio to determine branch locations.
Best species for Chokkan Bonsai:
- Juniper Bonsai
- Pine Bonsai
- Maples (Acer) Bonsai
- Spruces
Here are some great examples of Chokkan Style Bonsai Trees
Moyogi Style Bonsai
(Informal Upright)
This style tree is meant to mimic a tree that has grown in a windy area over the course of years, which gives it a light windswept look. For example a solitary tree in an open field.
Best species for Moyogi Bonsai:
- Maple Bonsai (Especial Trident Maples)
- Juniper Bonsai
- Beech Bonsai
- Black Pine Bonsai
Shakan Style Bonsai
(Slanting)
This style of bonsai tree is very popular. It attempts to mimic a tree that has been slanted by the wind or to grow out in order to receive more sunlight. Pines are possibly the most common trees to use for Shakan style, but any species that has a long trunk is a good candidate for the style.
In Order to achieve this effect, you will want to grow the roots so that they are on the opposing side of the trunk than the branches. You will want to wire heavily and keep the tree oriented towards the sun. You can tilt the pot so that the top of the tree faces the sun and try to avoid sun exposure to other parts. You may need to cut a weep hole in the part of the pot that faces down, to avoid rot. This will take time.
Best species for Shakan Bonsai:
- Firethorn (Pyracantha) Bonsai
- Olive Bonsai
- Bougainvillea Bonsai
- Oak Bonsai
Fukinagashi Style Bonsai
(Windswept)
Windswept is mostly a more exaggerated version of the Shakan style above but with more focus on the branches.
In order to achieve this look, you will need to tilt the pot and allow the plant to grow. The branches will start redirecting to reach up. As time progresses, increase the angle as the tree adapts. You will want to end with about a 70-80 degree angle. Trim any branch that doesn’t grow along with the rest.
Best species for Fukinagashi Bonsai:
- Juniper Bonsai
- Pine Bonsai
- Conifer
- Olive
- Beech
- Ficus
Hokidachi Style Bonsai
(Broom)
Broom style always has a straight vertical trunk that should ideally taper into the branches. Branches all point outwards like a Japanese fan. Hokidachi style is good for any tree that has narrow branches.
In nature, trees of this style are usually the strongest and boldest in a group. They stand high and do not have to compete for sunlight, thus the uniformed outward reaching branches.
Best species of Bonsai Tree for Hokidachi style:
- Most Elms (Chinese Elm, Siberian Elm, English Elm)
- Beech
- Olive
- Cherry
Kengai Style Bonsai
(Cascade)
Cascaded bonsai trees are becoming more popular. They have to be placed above the ground on a stool or small table. With this style, the trunk starts off pointing upwards but then abruptly turns down.
In nature, Kengai style bonsai trees are often found on cliffs or mountains.
Best species for Kengai Bonsai:
- Pines
- Junipers
- Spruces
- Wisterias
- Oaks
- Maples
Han Kengai Style Bonsai
(Semi- Cascade)
Semi-Cascading bonsai trees are a mix of a few types of styles. A twin trunk with one being informal upright, while the other cascading. Often the cascading trunk turns back up. It’s up to you which direction it will end up going in.
Best species for Kengai Bonsai:
- Pines
- Junipers
- Spruces
- Wisterias
- Oaks
- Maples
Bunjin Style Bonsai
(Literati)
This is more of an approach than a style, so it has no precise definition. Literati bonsai are rebels and break many rules. It is perhaps one of the best examples of the wabi-sabi technique, meaning symmetrical asymmetry. Keep it clean and sophisticated but also artistic and expressive.
Best species for Bunjin Bonsai:
We recommend sticking to strong and hearty deciduous species for the Litarie bonsai style, as this style is prone to a breaking trunk, over time.
- Juniper
- Spruce
- Hawthorn
Soju & Sokan Bonsai Styles
(Twin Trunk)
Soju is when two trunks with separate root systems are planted side by side. Sokan is when they have a shared root system. The styling and aesthetics of these two are the same so we have grouped them together.
This bonsai style can be used in conjunction with many other styles but they will be considered Soju or Sokam.
The best species for Soju & Sokan Bonsai are:
- Pine Bonsai Trees
- Spruce Bonsai Trees
Weeping Style
One of the most unique and beautiful bonsai styles. It mimics plants in high moisture areas near large bodies of water like lakes, rivers, or ponds.
This style will require lots of wiring. You will want to wire each branch. Start the wire going up and then sharply arch the branches until they are facing downward. If you’re new to wiring bonsai, there are lots of guides available.
Best species for Weeping Style Bonsai are:
- Willow
- Maple
Neagari Style Bonsai
(Exposed Root)
The exposed root is called Neagari. This is naturally due to soil erosion after the tree has developed.
Exposed Root style of bonsai can be performed with any other canopy styles. Just expose the roots little by little. Air will harden them and form a bark. At this point, it’s safe to expose more roots. You can do this perpetually.
Best species for Neagari style Bonsai:
- Chinese Elm
- Fig
- Oak
- Beech
- Black Pine
- Juniper
- Spruce
- Olive
- Rosemarry
Korabuki Style Bonsai
(Raft)
Raft-style bonsai trees are characterized by a tree laying on its side against the soil, where the branches grow upwards and mimic multiple trees. The trunk is still attached and fed by the original root structure.
There are a few different types of raft style bonsais:
- Straight Raft – The tree trunk is simply laid over and straight.
- Sinuous Raft – The tree trunk lays bent or twisted.
- Clump Raft – This is when the tree grows as a clump with 3 or more trunks growing out of it. The trunks can be laid horizontal, twisted, or straight up.
Yose-ue Style Bonsai
(Forest)
This is a type of straight raft bonsai. Each branch sprouts horizontally, and the trunk is completely hidden with soil, given the impression that this is multiple separate trees. You can often achieve the forest style by planting multiple bonsai’s side-by-side in the same container, but it is more dangerous as the separate trees will compete with each other for space and nutrients.
Best species for Yose-ue style Bonsai:
Maples
Pines
These most common, but any species of bonsai tree can be made into a Yose-ue forest.
Sekijoju Style Bonsai
(Root Over Rock)
This style of bonsai has a rock at the base of the trunk. The roots cross over and down the rock and continue into the soil. Sekijoj style can take a long time, as the roots will need time to grip the rock. The size of the roots will increase showing age.
Ishituki Style
(Clinging On a Rock)
Ishituki style is when a bonsai tree isn’t planted directly in the soil at all, but instead, the roots latch onto the side or top of a large rock. This can be one of the more challenging bonsai styles to achieve but it is worth it. It’s also a great way to display an interesting or beautiful rock.
Bonsai Tree Planted on a Slab
Planting a bonsai on a slab is a great and impressive way to showcase the beauty of the tree without any attention being lost on the bonsai pot. Make sure to choose a slab of rock that is pouros with lots of nooks and crannies for the roots to latch on it.
Check back in the future for more styles. We are always growing and expanding this list.
