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  5. Outdoor Bonsai Trees

Outdoor Bonsai Trees

Most traditional bonsai species are outdoor trees. They need direct sunlight, seasonal temperature changes, and a winter dormancy period to stay healthy long-term. Keeping these species indoors year-round will slowly weaken them. If you have a balcony, patio, or garden, outdoor bonsai offer the widest range of species and the most dramatic seasonal displays.

43 Outdoor Bonsai Trees

Juniperus chinensisoutdoor
Juniper bonsai

Juniper Bonsai

care
beginner
·
light
full sun
·
zone
4–9
Acer palmatumoutdoor
Japanese Maple bonsai

Japanese Maple Bonsai

care
intermediate
·
light
partial shade
·
zone
5–9
Ulmus parvifoliaboth
Chinese Elm bonsai

Chinese Elm Bonsai

care
beginner
·
light
full sun+
·
zone
5–10
Taxodium distichumoutdoor
Bald Cypress bonsai

Bald Cypress Bonsai

care
intermediate
·
light
full sun
·
zone
4–10
Rhododendron spp.outdoor
Azalea bonsai

Azalea Bonsai

care
intermediate
·
light
partial shade
·
zone
6–9
Prunus serrulataoutdoor
Cherry Blossom bonsai

Cherry Blossom Bonsai

care
advanced
·
light
full sun
·
zone
5–9
Wisteria floribundaoutdoor
Wisteria bonsai

Wisteria Bonsai

care
intermediate
·
light
full sun
·
zone
5–9
Olea europaeaboth
Olive bonsai

Olive Bonsai

care
beginner
·
light
full sun
·
zone
8–11
Portulacaria afraboth
Dwarf Jade bonsai

Dwarf Jade Bonsai

care
beginner
·
light
full sun
·
zone
9–11
Punica granatumoutdoor
Pomegranate bonsai

Pomegranate Bonsai

care
intermediate
·
light
full sun
·
zone
8–10
Zelkova serrataoutdoor
Zelkova bonsai

Zelkova Bonsai

care
beginner
·
light
full sun+
·
zone
5–8
Acer buergerianumoutdoor
Trident Maple bonsai

Trident Maple Bonsai

care
intermediate
·
light
full sun+
·
zone
5–9
Malus sylvestrisoutdoor
Crabapple bonsai

Crabapple Bonsai

care
intermediate
·
light
full sun
·
zone
4–8
Bougainvillea glabraboth
Bougainvillea bonsai

Bougainvillea Bonsai

care
intermediate
·
light
full sun
·
zone
9–11
Podocarpus macrophyllusboth
Podocarpus bonsai

Podocarpus Bonsai

care
beginner
·
light
bright indirect
·
zone
7–11
Bambusa ventricosaboth
Bamboo bonsai

Bamboo Bonsai

care
intermediate
·
light
bright indirect
·
zone
9–11
Buxus sempervirensoutdoor
Boxwood bonsai

Boxwood Bonsai

care
beginner
·
light
full sun+
·
zone
5–9
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana'outdoor
Hinoki Cypress bonsai

Hinoki Cypress Bonsai

care
intermediate
·
light
full sun+
·
zone
5–8
Cotoneaster horizontalisoutdoor
Cotoneaster bonsai

Cotoneaster Bonsai

care
beginner
·
light
full sun
·
zone
5–9
Pithecellobium tortumboth
Brazilian Rain Tree bonsai

Brazilian Rain Tree Bonsai

care
intermediate
·
light
full sun
·
zone
10–12
Conocarpus erectusboth
Buttonwood bonsai

Buttonwood Bonsai

care
intermediate
·
light
full sun
·
zone
10–12
Salix babylonicaoutdoor
Willow bonsai

Willow Bonsai

care
intermediate
·
light
full sun
·
zone
6–9
Cedrus deodaraoutdoor
Cedar bonsai

Cedar Bonsai

care
intermediate
·
light
full sun
·
zone
7–10
Ginkgo bilobaoutdoor
Ginkgo bonsai

Ginkgo Bonsai

care
intermediate
·
light
full sun
·
zone
3–8
Carpinus betulusoutdoor
Hornbeam bonsai

Hornbeam Bonsai

care
intermediate
·
light
full sun+
·
zone
4–8
Larix deciduaoutdoor
Larch bonsai

Larch Bonsai

care
intermediate
·
light
full sun
·
zone
3–7
Fagus sylvaticaoutdoor
Beech bonsai

Beech Bonsai

care
intermediate
·
light
full sun+
·
zone
4–8
Taxus baccataoutdoor
Yew bonsai

Yew Bonsai

care
intermediate
·
light
full sun+
·
zone
5–8
Salvia rosmarinusboth
Rosemary bonsai

Rosemary Bonsai

care
beginner
·
light
full sun
·
zone
7–11
Ligustrum sinenseoutdoor
Privet bonsai

Privet Bonsai

care
beginner
·
light
full sun+
·
zone
6–10
Rhododendron indicumoutdoor
Satsuki Azalea bonsai

Satsuki Azalea Bonsai

care
advanced
·
light
partial shade
·
zone
7–9
Pinus thunbergiioutdoor
Black Pine bonsai

Black Pine Bonsai

care
advanced
·
light
full sun
·
zone
5–9
Pinus parvifloraoutdoor
White Pine bonsai

White Pine Bonsai

care
advanced
·
light
full sun+
·
zone
5–8
Ulmus parvifolia 'Corticosa'both
Cork Bark Elm bonsai

Cork Bark Elm Bonsai

care
intermediate
·
light
full sun+
·
zone
5–9
Syzygium australeboth
Brush Cherry bonsai

Brush Cherry Bonsai

care
intermediate
·
light
full sun
·
zone
9–11
Pyracantha coccineaoutdoor
Firethorn bonsai

Firethorn Bonsai

care
intermediate
·
light
full sun
·
zone
6–9
Betula pendulaoutdoor
Birch bonsai

Birch Bonsai

care
intermediate
·
light
full sun+
·
zone
2–7
Celtis sinensisoutdoor
Hackberry bonsai

Hackberry Bonsai

care
beginner
·
light
full sun
·
zone
5–10
Metasequoia glyptostroboidesoutdoor

Dawn Redwood Bonsai

care
beginner
·
light
full sun
·
zone
5–8
Sequoia sempervirensoutdoor

Coast Redwood Bonsai

care
intermediate
·
light
full sun+
·
zone
7–9
Acer rubrumoutdoor

Red Maple Bonsai

care
intermediate
·
light
full sun+
·
zone
4–9
Pinus mugooutdoor

Mugo Pine Bonsai

care
beginner
·
light
full sun
·
zone
3–7
Citrus limonboth

Lemon Bonsai

care
intermediate
·
light
full sun
·
zone
9–11

Outdoor Bonsai FAQ

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Ranked picks

Shortlists that overlap this category

All shortlists
Best Outdoor Bonsai Trees10 picksBest Bonsai for Cold Climates10 picksBest Bonsai Trees for Beginners9 picks