I actually became interested in growing a bonsai when my thyme bush needed pruned. I then thought about how it might look as a bonsai. So i got a book from the library about turning herbs into bonsai. The book can be found here : books.google.com/books/about/Herbal_Bonsai.html?id=0UUAbd2D34EC

Either way that began my facination with the art of Bonsai. I'm currently growing a bonsai using a concord grape vine and am also growing a minature cherry tree to be turned into a bonsai at a later date.

Now my question is why isn't growing Herbal Bonsai very popular? Everybody just goes straight to the trees. At the very least herbs make sense for a beginner.

Hey there,
Welcome to the forum.
here is an article I found regarding herbs..
enjoy
www.evergreengardenworks.com/rosemary.htm

i would imagine becuase it takes alot of time to get the large trunk look on herb plants ... i've seen rosemary and thyme plants that were impressive tho

I've seen Rosemary plants that were trimmed as a bonsai but personally I prefer Thyme. My Thyme bonsai was field planted for 5 years before it got the size and shape I wanted. Amazingly, even after trimming almost 70% of it off it recovered extremely fast. I've since wired it and planted Corsican mint as a groundcover and Verigated Oregano as a look alike for hostas.

I think Herbs are ideal for a beginner but they dont quite have the same look that a hard wood tree does. I would have to say Thyme comes the closest to a traditional bonsai look. However, certain types of tropical herbs would be even better than your traditional garden herbs.

pics please

Sorry for the delay in getting the pictures. The file size was too large for the server.

Anyhow, here are the pictures of my Thyme bonsai as well as my grape and cherry bonsais in training. I also included a picture of my garden.

Some have good potential!

Friends of mine have a rosemary bonsai, it's looking great, but I think most herbs are not good to be used as bonsai. Rosemary is used more often, and I have seen people trying to make Lavender bonsai, but I haven't heard from other species of herbs used as bonsai.

Good luck!

I just love my Thyme bonsai! I think if you're going to create a bonsai out of herbs you're better off starting with thyme. It still needs to age in the ground for about 5 years but in the end you get a pretty nice structure out of it.

Herbs definitly need more pruning but at the same time they require less care.

My favorite herbs are the Corsican mint and verigated oregano. They make perfect ground cover if you have a bonsai.

My rule for herbal bonsai is this: Everything should be edible. Therefore, every herb I put in the pot I can use on a dish. Personally I go for the more cullinary herbs but people could certainly grow medicinal herb bonsais.

That thyme plant is pretty wicked. I would reduce the length of all those shoots for a denser look. Would defeat the purpose though if you actually use it for your cooking.