One of my favorite aspects of growing a bonsai tree is deciding which style to use. You can get creative as you like and the sky’s the limit when it comes to your tree’s aesthetics. It doesn’t matter if you’re new to growing bonsai or an expert, there are bonsai styles for all skill levels.
Most bonsai styles are based on the looks of trees in nature. There are many different styles to choose from and the skill level required to recreate them varies. In nature, trees can be affected by wind, weather and many other conditions that they live in and bonsai styles recreate this look within a small tray.
I’m going to show you actual examples of bonsai styles as well as tell you the skill level involved and what species they are most suitable for.
Common Bonsai Tree Styles
Certain bonsai tree species handle styles better than others. So, it’s important that you keep that in mind when you’re choosing your style.
These are some of the most common bonsai styles which are perfect for newcomers looking to hone their technique. For basic styles we will cover:
- Formal Upright
- Informal Upright
- Slanted
- Cascade
- Semi-Cascade
Formal Upright (Chokkan)
This is thought to be the first bonsai style created. The formal upright (chokkan) style consists of a straight, tapering trunk.
The branches will be thickest at the base of the tree and become shorter near the top. This bonsai style is not seen often today, perhaps because it is a very common shape in nature.
The Formal Upright Style Bonsai is Perfect For:
This is a great style for anyone that is starting out in bonsai. This style is very forgiving and doesn’t take as much skill to achieve compared to others.
Formal Upright Style Features
- Trunk Grows Upright in Straight Line
- Branches Have a Symmetric Triangle Appearance
- Trunk is Thicker Near the Bottom and Thinner at the Top
- Branching Should Begin at 1/4 of the Total Trunk Length
Suitable Trees for Formal Upright Style
- Maple (Acer)
- Pines (Pinus)
- Spruces (Picea)
- Junipers (Juniperus)
Informal Upright (Moyogi)
The Moyogi or Informal upright style bonsai is much like the formal upright with a few differences. Informal upright bonsais are upright with branches that become shorter near the top, but the trunk has some curves.
The trunk of the informal upright can have many curves, but the top of the tree should be centered with the base of the trunk.
The Informal Upright Style Bonsai is Perfect For:
If you want an easy bonsai style that still has some character, I highly recommend the informal upright. It is one of the most common bonsai styles and much like the formal upright, it’s easy to maintain.
Formal Upright Style Features
- Trunk is Curved
- Branches Protrude from the Outside Areas of the Trunk
- Tapered Trunk that is Thinner at the Bottom and Thicker at the Top
- Tip of Tree is Directly Centered with Base of Trunk
Suitable Tree Species for Informal Upright Style
- Beech (Fagus)
- Black Pine (Pinus)
- Conifers (Pine, Fir & Spruce)
- Crab Apple (Malus)
- Japanese Maple (Acer)
- Japanese White Pine (Pinus)
- Juniper (Juniperus)
- Ponderosa Pine (Pinus)
- Pomegranate (Punica)
- Trident Maple (Acer)
Slanted (Shakan)
In nature you will find trees like this that have been affected by strong wind, or being in a shaded area and growing toward a light source.
The trunk is straight, like a formal upright, but will bend to one side. Branches are similar to a formal upright since the thickest branches are near the base of the trunk, while the thinner branches are near the top.
The Slanted Style Bonsai is Perfect For:
The slanted (shakan) style bonsai creates a very dramatic look without being overly complex to achieve. This style can work with nearly all tree species, so it’s very versatile.
Slanted Style Features
- Trunk is Curved
- Trunk Bends to One Direction
- Equally spaced Branches that are Thick at the Bottom and Thin on Top
Suitable Tree Species for Slanted Style
- Beech (Fagus)
- Black Pine (Pinus)
- Conifers (Pine, Fir & Spruce)
- Crab Apple (Malus )
- Japanese Maple (Acer)
- Japanese White Pine (Pinus)
- Juniper (Juniperus)
- Pomegranate (Punica)
- Ponderosa Pine (Pinus)
- Trident Maple (Acer)
Cascade (Kengai)
The goal of the cascade (kengai) style is to replicate the aesthetics of a tree that is living in harsh conditions, such as on a mountain side or alongside a waterfall.
With this style, the tree grows off to the side of the pot and downward beneath the base.
The Cascade Style Bonsai is Perfect For:
The cascade (kengai) style bonsai would be perfect for someone who has mastered the formal and informal upright styles and wants to advance their styling skills.
Cascade Style Features
- Trunk Grows Upright, Then Downward Below the Pot
- Branches Face Downward with Leaves Facing Up
- Grown in Tall Cylindrical Pot
Suitable Tree Species for Cascade Style
- Black Pine (Pinus)
- Conifers (Pine, Fir & Spruce)
- Japanese White Pine (Pinus)
- Juniper (Juniperus)
- Oak (Quercus)
- Olive (Olea)
- Ponderosa Pine (Pinus)
- Spruce (Picea)
- Wisteria (Fabaceae)
Semi-Cascade (Han-Kengai)
The semi-cascade (han-kengai) style is very similar to the cascade style, but it won’t grow below the bottom of the pot.
This style can be a bit tricky, but when done right it can look very beautiful.
The Semi-Cascade Style Bonsai is Perfect For:
The semi-cascade (han-kengai) style is perfect for those who have the patience. It requires significantly more training time than others on this list, but its beauty is worth the wait.
Semi-Cascade Features
- Trunk Grows Upright, Then Downward No Lower than the Pot
- Trunk Bends to One Side
- Equally Spaced Branches that are Thick at the Bottom and Thin on Top
Suitable Tree Species for Semi-Cascade Style
- Beech (Fagus)
- Black Pine (Pinus)
- Cherry (Syzygium)
- Conifers (Pine, Fir & Spruce)
- Cotoneaster (Rosaceae)
- Crab Apple (Malus)
- Ficus (Ficus)
- Japanese White Pine (Pinus)
- Japanese Zelkova (Zelkova)
- Juniper (Juniperus)
- Olive (Olea)
- Ponderosa Pine (Pinus)
- Spruce (Picea)
Broom (Hokidachi)
Most people are familiar with trees that resemble the broom (hokidachi) style. The trunk is usually straight and the branches form into a rounded crown.
This style tree looks beautiful throughout all seasons and draws is considered to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing.
The Broom Style Bonsai is Perfect For:
As this is a very challenging style to achieve, it’s best suited for those who have a good grasp of bonsai styling.
Maintenance and shaping on a broom (hokidachi) style tree will be quite tedious when compared to other styles.
Broom Features
- Branches and Tree Top Shaped to Form a Crown
- Branches Begin at 1/3 of the Way Up the Trunk
- Wide Root System
Suitable Tree Species for Broom Style
- Beech (Fagus)
- Brush Cherry (Syzygium)
- Chinese Elm (Ulmus)
- Crab Apple (Malus)
- English Elm (Ulmus)
- Japanese Zelkova (Zelkova )
- Olive (Olea)
- Pomegranate (Punica)
- Siberian Elm (Ulmus)
Double Trunk (Sokan)
The double trunk or twin trunk (sokan) style bonsai has two trunks that emerge from the root system.
Ideally the tree will have a trunk that is a bit taller and thicker than the other, but that isn’t always the case.
The Double Trunk Style Bonsai is Perfect For:
This multi-trunk style is very demanding and will take a lot of skill to achieve. It’s a very unique and non-traditional looking, so it’s great for those who want something a bit different.
Cascade Style Features
- Two Trunks that Transition to a Single Crown
- Very Wide Root System to Support Multiple Trunks
- Lack of Branches Near Tree Trunks
Suitable Tree Species for Cascade Style
- Beech (Fagus)
- Black Pine (Pinus)
- Brush Cherry (Eugenia)
- Crab Apple (Malus)
- Ficus (Ficus)
- Japanese White Pine (Pinus)
- Japanese Zelkova (Zelkova)
- Jasmine (Murraya)
- Juniper (Juniperus)
- Maples (Acer)
- Olive (Olea)
- Pomegranate (Punica)
- Ponderosa Pine (Pinus)
- Spruce (Picea)
Literati (Bunjingi)
Literati (bunjingi) style trees will feature long and contorted trunks that have very few branches. They are made to look like trees that are struggling to survive in harsh conditions.
This style is best suited for conifers, but other species can manage this style as well.
The Literati Style Bonsai is Perfect For:
This is a very tasteful, minimalistic style and because of its history it would be great for anyone who has an interest in art.
The literati (bunjingi) style is one of the most difficult to achieve, so it’s not recommended for beginners.
Literati Features
- Minimal Branches and Leaves
- Thin Contorted Trunk
- Typically Irregular in Shape
Suitable Tree Species for Literati Style
- Bald Cypress (Taxodium)
- Beech (Fagus)
- Conifers (Pine, Fir & Spruce)
- Ficus (Ficus)
- Japanese Black Pine (Pinus)
- Japanese White Pine (Pinus)
- Juniper (Juniperus)
- Ponderosa Pine (Pinus)
- Red Pine (Pinus)
- Spruce (Picea)