Identify
my tree

ID my tree, Bonsai identification

This guide will help you identify the species of tree you have in two simple steps. All you need to do is to take a close look at your tree's foliage and match it to the options we’ve provided below.

Tree species for Bonsai video
SELECTING TREE SPECIES

Select a category

Broadleaf evergreen Keep their leaves year-round
Broadleaf evergreen
Keep their leaves year-round
Deciduous trees Shed their leaves in fall
Deciduous trees
Shed their leaves in fall
Pines and Conifers Needles or scale-like foliage
Pines and Conifers
Needles or scale-like foliage

Broadleaf evergreen

Broadleaf evergreen trees can have two leaf growth patterns: alternating or opposite.
Opposite leaf growth
Leaves that emerge opposite of each other
Alternating leaf growth
Leaves that grow alternating
Broadleaf evergreen - Opposite leaf pattern trees
Privet Ligustrum
Boxwood Buxus sempervirens
Honeysuckle Lonicera nitida / pileata
Snow rose Serissa japonica and foetida
Olive Olea europaea
Dwarf jade Portulacaria and Crassula
Duranta Duranta excelsa
Fuchsia Fuchsia
Gardenia Gardenia jasminoides
Crepe myrtle Lagerstroemia indica
Brush cherry Eugenia myrtifolia or Syzygium australe
Pitanga Eugenia uniflora, Surinam cherry
Premna Premna
Myrtle Myrtus communis
Wattle Acacia
Firethorn Pyracantha
Water jasmine Wrightia religiosa
Broadleaf evergreen - Alternating leaf pattern trees
Fig tree Ficus retusa and ginseng
Fukien tea Carmona retusa
Azalea Rhododendron
Bird plum Sageretia theezans
Bougainvillea Bougainvillea
Orange jessamine Murraya paniculata
Cotoneaster Cotoneaster
Silverberry Eleagnus pungens
Money tree Pachira aquatica
Hawaiian umbrella Schefflera
Brazilian rain tree Chloroleucon or Pithecellobium
Japanese holly Ilex crenata
Citrus, Lemon and Orange Citrus limon and Citrus sinensis
Camellia Camellia

Deciduous trees

Deciduous trees can have two leaf growth patterns: alternating or opposite.
Opposite leaf growth
Leaves that emerge opposite of each other
Alternating leaf growth
Leaves that grow alternating
Deciduous species - Opposite leaf pattern trees
Japanese maple Acer palmatum
Trident maple Acer buergerianum
Dwarf pomegranate Punica granatum
Jacaranda Jacaranda mimosifolia
Flame Tree Delonix regia
Hawthorn Crataegus
Guayacan Tabebuia guayacán
Horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum
Jabuticaba Myrciaria cauliflora
Deciduous species - Alternating leaf pattern trees
Chinese elm Ulmus parviflora
Japanese elm Zelkova
European beech Fagus sylvatica
Japanese beech Fagus crenata
Hornbeam Carpinus betula
Birch Betula pendula
Corean hornbeam Carpinus turczaninowii or coreana
Wisteria Wisteria sinensis
Magnolia Magnolia stellata
Crabapple and Apple Malus
Japanese cherry Prunus serrulata
Flowering apricot Prunus mume
Japanese flowering quince Chaenomeles japonica ‘Chojubai’
Chinese quince Pseudocydonia sinensis
Oak Quercus
Hackberry Celtis
Chinese pepper Zanthoxylum
Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba
Desert rose Adenium
Japanese winterberry Ilex serrata
Weeping willow Salix
Baobab Adansonia digitata
Judas tree Cercis
Stewartia Stewartia monadelpha

Pines and Conifers

Pines and Conifers can be divided into three categories; those with elongating growth patterns, whorled growth patterns, or deciduous conifers.
Elongating growth patterns
Scale-like leaves
Whorled growth patterns
Needles arise at a common point
Deciduous conifers
Sheds needles in fall
Coniferous evergreen - Elongating growth patterns
Chinese juniper Juniperus chinensis
Needle juniper Juniperus rigida
Common juniper Juniperus communis
European spruce Picea abies
Yezo-spruce Picea jezoensis
European yew Taxus baccata
Japanese yew Taxus cuspidata
Japanese cryptomeria Cryptomeria japonica, Japanese cedar
Buddhist pine Podocarpus macrophyllus
Hinoki cypress Chamaecyparis obtusa
Sawara cypress Chamaecyparis pisifera
Mediterranean cypress Cupressus sempervirens
Cedar Cedrus
Coast redwood Sequoia sempervirens
Coniferous evergreen - Whorled growth patterns
Japanese black pine Pinus thunbergii
Japanese red pine Pinus densiflora
Japanese white pine Pinus parviflora, Five needle pine
Scots pine Pinus sylvestris
Mountain pine Pinus mugo
Ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa
Deciduous conifers
European larch Larix decidua
Japanese larch Larix kaempferi
Hybrid larch Larix eurolepis
Bald cypress Taxodium distichum
Dawn redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides

Master the art of Bonsai

Master the art of Bonsai
Triangle
Overview of our courses

Master the art of Bonsai

Online Bonsai Courses Learn from leading Bonsai experts at your own pace, from the comfort of your living room!