Tree vs
Bonsai

Nature as source of inspiration

It will be no surprise to anyone that nature is a big source of inspiration for those interested in Bonsai. After all, the ultimate goal of growing a Bonsai is to create a miniature version of nature.

In this article we have combined trees and Bonsai trees that look alike; you might be surprised at how incredibly similar some Bonsai trees are to their full-grown counterparts. Enjoy!

Majestic oak tree — Left: majestic tree, (photo found at Walter Pall's Facebook), right: Bonsai tree by Walter Pall.

Bonsai by Walter Pall — Left: majestic tree, (photo found at Walter Pall's Facebook), right: Bonsai tree by Walter Pall.

Island with pines (Scotland.gov) — Left: small island with pine trees (photo by Scotland.gov), right: famous Bonsai landscape by John Naka. Read more on Japanese Bonsai trees here.

Bonsai forest by John Naka, Japan — Left: small island with pine trees (photo by Scotland.gov), right: famous Bonsai landscape by John Naka. Read more on Japanese Bonsai trees here.

Linden tree in winter — Left: Linden tree during winter (photo found at Walter Pall's Facebook), right: Linden Bonsai tree by Walter Pall.

Linden bonsai tree, Walter Pall — Left: Linden tree during winter (photo found at Walter Pall's Facebook), right: Linden Bonsai tree by Walter Pall.

Tree in winter — Left: tree in the Netherlands, right: very fine ramification (photo by Nature Bonsai). The Bonsai style depicted here is the Hokidachi (broom style).

Ramification on Bonsai tree (Nature Bonsai) — Left: tree in the Netherlands, right: very fine ramification (photo by Nature Bonsai). The Bonsai style depicted here is the Hokidachi (broom style).

Red maple (FrankieFlowers) — Left: red Maple (photo by FrankieFlowers), right: Maple Bonsai tree in autumn by Walter Pall. The same Maple tree is shown below twice, you can also see Walter Pall's maple Bonsai in the four seasons.

Maple bonsai in fall — Left: red Maple (photo by FrankieFlowers), right: Maple Bonsai tree in autumn by Walter Pall. The same Maple tree is shown below twice, you can also see Walter Pall's maple Bonsai in the four seasons.

Tree (Nature blog) — Left: tree in nature (photo by Nature Blog), right: Maple Bonsai tree in summer by Walter Pall.

Acer bonsai in summer — Left: tree in nature (photo by Nature Blog), right: Maple Bonsai tree in summer by Walter Pall.

Tree in winter (Facebook Walter Pall) — Left: tree in winter (photo found at Walter Pall's Facebook), right: Maple Bonsai tree in winter by Walter Pall.

Maple bonsai in winter — Left: tree in winter (photo found at Walter Pall's Facebook), right: Maple Bonsai tree in winter by Walter Pall.

Baobab (AmusingPlanet) — Left: Baobab trees in Africa (photo by AmusingPlanet), right: Chinese Elm Bonsai in Baobab style (photo by BonsaiBeginnings).

Chinese elm in Baobab style (Bonsai Beginnings) — Left: Baobab trees in Africa (photo by AmusingPlanet), right: Chinese Elm Bonsai in Baobab style (photo by BonsaiBeginnings).

Ficus tree — Left: huge Ficus tree in Sri Lanka, right: beautiful Bonsai Ficus with airroots by Weng Qi Zhang.

Ficus bonsai banyan (Weng Zhang) — Left: huge Ficus tree in Sri Lanka, right: beautiful Bonsai Ficus with airroots by Weng Qi Zhang.

Hollow trunk (Facebook Walter Pall) — Left: tree with hollow trunk (photo found at Walter Pall's Facebook), right: Bonsai tree by Harry Harrington.

Bonsai hollow trunk (Harry Harrington) — Left: tree with hollow trunk (photo found at Walter Pall's Facebook), right: Bonsai tree by Harry Harrington.

Big trunk (Nick Pellegrino) — Left: big trunk (photo by Nick Pellegrino), right: Bonsai tree at Kouka-en with a huge root flare.

Bonsai with large root flare — Left: big trunk (photo by Nick Pellegrino), right: Bonsai tree at Kouka-en with a huge root flare.

Tree in winter (Facebook Walter Pall) — Left: tree in winter (photo found at Walter Pall's Facebook), right: Zelkova Bonsai tree by Alain de Wachter.

Zelkova Bonsai (Alain Wachter) — Left: tree in winter (photo found at Walter Pall's Facebook), right: Zelkova Bonsai tree by Alain de Wachter.

Trees in Winter (FaunaFlora) — Left: trees in winter (photo by FaunaFlora), right: bonsai forest by Luis Vallejo.

Bonsai Forest (Luis Vallejo) — Left: trees in winter (photo by FaunaFlora), right: bonsai forest by Luis Vallejo.

Baobab tree (MutteringandPlantMusing) — Left: Baobab tree (photo by: Muttering and Plant musings), right: Elm tree (photo found at Baidu forums).

Elm Bonsai (Baidu forums) — Left: Baobab tree (photo by: Muttering and Plant musings), right: Elm tree (photo found at Baidu forums).

Maple tree in fall (Feel Spirit) — Left: Maple tree (photo and combination found by Feel Spirit), right: Japanese Maple Bonsai growing from a clump (photo by Aido Bonsai).

Japanese maple Bonsai from clump (Aido Bonsai) — Left: Maple tree (photo and combination found by Feel Spirit), right: Japanese Maple Bonsai growing from a clump (photo by Aido Bonsai).

Tree lightning (Feel Spirit) — Left: tree in nature (photo and combination found at Feel Spirit), right: Literati style Bonsai (photo by Bonsai del Norte).

Literati Bonsai (Bonsai del Norte) — Left: tree in nature (photo and combination found at Feel Spirit), right: Literati style Bonsai (photo by Bonsai del Norte).

Forest in winter (Hank) — Left: forest in the Netherlands (photo by Hank), right: forest Bonsai by Luis Vallejo.

Bonsai Forest (Luis Vallejo) — Left: forest in the Netherlands (photo by Hank), right: forest Bonsai by Luis Vallejo.

African tree (Diana Robinson) — Left: tree in Africa (photo by Diana Robinson), right: Bonsai tree by Luis Nel.

African Bonsai (Luis Nel) — Left: tree in Africa (photo by Diana Robinson), right: Bonsai tree by Luis Nel.

Trees in winter (DailyMail) — Left: trees in winter (photo by DailyMail), right: forest Bonsai (photo by Vaughn Bantingburch).

Forest Bonsai (Vaughn Bantingburch) — Left: trees in winter (photo by DailyMail), right: forest Bonsai (photo by Vaughn Bantingburch).

Chinese landscape (Craig Coussins) — Left: landscape in China (photo by Craig Coussins), right: Penjing landscape (photo by Kuangshua Hsiao Penjing).

Penjing landscape (Kuangshua Hsiao) — Left: landscape in China (photo by Craig Coussins), right: Penjing landscape (photo by Kuangshua Hsiao Penjing).

Rock island (Jose Luis Largtategui) — Left: rock island (photo by Jose Luis Lartategui), right: Suiseki viewing stone (photo by BonsaiMania).

Suiseki (Bonsai Mania) — Left: rock island (photo by Jose Luis Lartategui), right: Suiseki viewing stone (photo by BonsaiMania).

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