Pinus thunbergii

In training since 1895

Gift of Saichi Suzuki, 1976

The Japanese bonsai gift to the United States in honor of our bicentennial included 50 trees to represent the states, one of which had to be the same age as the country. This bonsai was chosen as the first tree because it was believed to be about 200 years old at the time of the dedication in 1976. It was originally collected from the Atsumi peninsula, southwest of Tokyo.

Pinus parviflora ‘Miyajima’

In training since 1625

Gift of Masaru Yamaki, 1976

This is the oldest bonsai in the Museum and was in the same family in Japan from the time it was created almost 400 years ago until gifted to the U.S. in 1976.

Pinus parviflora

Gift of Daizo Iwasaki, 1976

One of the most important elements of a bonsai is the quality of its surface roots. This pine has especially dramatic ones that seem to grab the earth.

Picea glehnii

In training since 1925

Gift of Tokuei Tanaka, 1976

When this tree was collected in Japan, it was probably about 120 years old. It is difficult to know the exact age of a bonsai that first grew in the wild.

Chamaecyparis obtusa

In training since 1875

Gift of Shuhei Nagai, 1976

The way the bonsai artist thinned and shaped the foliage on this tree helps create the appearance of an ancient tree, which is a primary goal in bonsai.

Cryptomeria japonica

In training since 1905

Gift of Eisaku Sato, 1976

This bonsai suggests a peaceful garden forest near a place of worship. In Japan, one often finds a temple or shrine nestled within a shady cryptomeria grove in the countryside.

Elaeagnus pungens

In training since 1825

Gift of Teisuke Takahashi, 1976

Look for berries in the springtime on this flowering and fruiting shrub. Started from a cutting in 1825, this plant has been cultivated as a bonsai through its entire life.

Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii

In training since 1905

Gift of Kenichi Oguchi, 1976

The design of the museum logo was inspired by this bonsai with its rhythmic lines of dead wood contrasting with green foliage pads.

Wisteria floribunda

In training since 1925

Gift of Kihei Tamura, 1976

Wisteria does not produce fine twigs, so it takes an especially skilled bonsai artist to create dense foliage when shaping it into a bonsai.

Zelkova serrata

In training since 1895

Gift of Yoshibumi Itoigawa, 1976

This bonsai is only 4 feet tall, yet it gives the appearance of a giant tree with a thick trunk, powerful surface roots, and tapered branching.

Malus toringo

In training since 1905

Gift of Shu’ichi Ueda, 1976

This crabapple has four season interest: white blossoms in spring; bright green leaves in summer; yellow fruits in autumn; and when its leaves fall in winter, the bent and craggy silhouette of an aged tree.

Fagus crenata

In training since 1946

Gift of Kiyoshi Kawamata, 1976

This is an example of the classical forest style where you feel as if you are inside the forest looking out—the trees nearest you appear un-obstructed and large; the ones in back are smaller.

Ginkgo biloba

In training since 1926

Gift of Kiku Shinkai, 1976

Ginkgo bonsai make their best show in autumn when their bright green leaves gradually turn a brilliant golden yellow.

Ginkgo biloba

In training since 1896

Gift of Masayuki Fujio, 1976

Bulbous growths, known as chi chi, typically appear on older ginkgo trees like this bonsai. From these, ariel roots may develop to help the tree survive in times of environmental stress.

Pseudocydonia sinensis

In training since 1875

Gift of Etsusaburo Shiina, 1976

The techniques of bonsai can, in some species, reduce the size of the leaves, but fruit and flowers remain the same size as those on trees growing naturally. This quince produces 5-inch fruits.

Camellia japonica (Higo Group) 'Yamato-nishiki'

In training since 1876

Gift of Nippon Bonsai Kyodo Kumiai, Kyushu Branch (Nippon Bonsai Growers Cooperative), 1976

The flowers of the Higo camellia are distinctive for the bold sunburst pattern of yellow stamens at the center of the petals. In Japan, these winter blossoms are associated with the bravery of samurai.

Acer buergerianum

In training since 1856

Gift of Tanekichi Isozaki, 1976

This masterpiece bonsai shows the artist’s expertise in training a seedling to become a majestic tree with flaring surface roots, a powerful trunk tapering gracefully to the apex, and horizontal branches with finely articulated twigging.

Acer buergerianum

In training since 1916

Gift of Takeo Fukuda, 1976

In this “root-over-rock” style, the artist grew a young plant on top of a rock, gradually removing soil as the roots matured. In nature, maple roots sometimes grasp a rock just like this.

Acer palmatum

In training since 1906

Gift of Ryutaro Azuma, 1976

Japanese maple is one of the finest materials for bonsai because when cultivated as a bonsai it produces smaller leaves than if growing in the ground.

Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime'

In training since 1946

Gift of Akiko Matsudaira, 1976

Trees with fine twigs, small leaves, and spreading roots are good matches for smaller bonsai. Certain cultivars with these characteristics, like this one, are favorites for creating miniature scenes.

Pinus thunbergii

Gift of Goro Ito, 1976

The slant-style in bonsai represents the forces of nature on mature trees: strong winds, heavy snows, rock slides, or the need to grow towards the light are all reasons for a tree to lean.

Acer palmatum Yatsubusa Group

In training since 1946

Gift of Shintaro Abe, 1976

The small leaves, tiny twigs and strong roots of dwarf maple varieties make them perfect material for the bonsai artist whose goal is to create the illusion of a large, mature tree.

Tsuga diversifolia

In training since 1926

Gift of Royal Household of Princess Chichibu, Japan, 1976

Japan’s Princess Chichibu (1909-1995) was a well-known patron of the art of bonsai. She donated this hemlock from her royal collection as a part of Japan's Bicentennial gift to the United States.

Acer buergerianum

In training since 1895

Gift of Royal Household of Prince Takamatsu, Japan, 1976

One of three trees from the Imperial Family included in Japan’s 1976 Bicentennial gift, this majestic maple is from the collection of Prince Takamatsu (1905-1987) and was trained as a bonsai from a seedling.

Pinus densiflora

In training since 1795

Gift of the Imperial Household, Japan, 1976

It was an unprecedented honor for the Emperor of Japan to include a tree from the Imperial Collection as part of his country’s gift to the United States in 1976—none had ever before left Japan.

Taxus cuspidata

In training since 1966

Gift of Reiji Takagi, 1998

This tree was originally collected on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. The bonsai artist has carved the dead portions to resemble naturally weathered dieback on an old tree.

Juniperus rigida

In training since 1966

Gift of Governor Yoshihiko Tsuchiya, 1998

Before it became a bonsai, this tree was about 250 years old. It was collected from a rugged coastal area on the Sea of Japan.

Picea glehnii

In training since 1939

Gift of Saburo Kato, 1998

This tree, collected and styled by renowned Japanese bonsai master Saburo Kato, was an official gift from Japanese Prime Minister Obuchi to President Clinton.

Acer palmatum

In training since 1939

Gift of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, 1999

A gift from Japanese Prime Minister Obuchi's personal collection, this bonsai has the graceful shape of a maple growing in an open field.

Zelkova serrata

In training since 1984

Gift of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, 1999

Acer buergerianum

In training since 1919

Gift of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, 1999

This shohin bonsai has been trained from a seedling to grow over a rock.

Rhododendron (Satsuki Group) 'Korin'

Training age unknown

Gift of Hirozumi Ichihara, 2000

Korin is a type of Satsuki azalea cultivated by bonsai aritsts for its small leaves and flowers. In June, the leaves will not be visible when it is covered in pink blossoms.

Rhododendron (Satsuki Group) 'Gyoten'

Training age unknown

Gift of Shogo Watanabe, 2000

Satsuki azaleas bloom later than most other azaleas and often produce flowers of different colors on the same plant—a prized feature in bonsai.

Camellia x hiemalis 'Shishigashira'

In training since 1950

Gift of Susumu Nakamura, 2000

The small leaves and flowers of this dwarf camellia make it excellent material for bonsai. Its semi-double pink blossoms usually appear in November.

Eurya emarginata

In training since 1970

Gift of Susumu Nakamura, 2000

A member of the tea family, this evergreen shrub grows in thickets on mountain slopes, in rock crevices, and along seacoasts in China, Japan, and Korea.

Pinus parviflora 'Koko-no-e'

Train age unknown

Gift of Daizo Iwasaki, 2004

The branches of this pine were grafted onto the trunk at 90-degree angles to create a style of bonsai known as formal upright.

Pinus parviflora

Training age unknown

Gift of Daizo Iwasaki, 2004

Note that in the slant style of bonsai, though the trunk of the tree is leaning, the design of the branches and foliage provides a feeling of balance and stability.

Juniperus chinensis

Training age unknown

Gift of All Japan Shohin Bonsai Association, 2010

Osteomeles boninensis

Training age unknown

Gift of All Japan Shohin Bonsai Association, 2010

Pinus parviflora

In training since 1832

Gift of Hassan II, King of Morocco, 1983

This tree was a gift from the King of Morocco, His Majesty Hassan II, to President Ronald Reagan in 1983.

Stewartia monadelpha, Fagus crenata, Buxus microphylla

In training since 2001

Gift of Toshio Kawamoto, 2001

Notice that 3 different types of trees grow together in this type of bonsai called saikei. It is a "living landscape" designed by Japanese artist Kawamoto, who introduced this style after the WWII.

Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii

Training age unknown

Gift of Doug Paul, 2015