Basic Bonsai Styles
Following a a list of the five basic styles used in bonsai. We elaborate more in the different sections on the site but this will give you a basic understanding.Not sure which plants go well with the style you like? Here is a list of typical plants used for bonsai. This link will open ion a new window, just "x" it out when you are through.
Formal Upright
The formal upright style is considered the easiest for the novice bonsai artist This style always features a straight trunk. Usually one of the bottom branches is lower and extends farther from the trunk than the opposite branch.
This old prostrate juniper had very hard wood so heavy wire was used to force the branches downward. Hopefully we will get some back budding to fill the gaps.
Recommended Species: Junipers, Pines do well in this style aswell as Larches, Spruces and even the Maple, but they are not as easy to train into such a conformist style.
The trunk in the informal upright style bends slightly or twist to the front and side. This bend helps to give the style its look of informality.
Recommended Species: Most species of plants are suitable for this style. The Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) and Trident Maple (Acer buergerianum) are very common. The Fukien Tea to the right has grown quite nicely in this style.
Slanting Style
In the slanting style, the trunk has a more acute angle than in the informal upright style. The lowest branch spreads in a direction opposite to that in which the tree slants.
This Japanese Black Pine is being trained to go in the slanting style. Unfortunatly the viw of this picture is from the left side so the lower branch apears to be pointing at the viewer.
Recommended Species: Most species are suitable for this style, as the style does bear similarity to informal upright. Conifers and Junipers work particularly well.
Cascade Style
The cascade style of bonsai represents a natural tree growing down the face of an embankment. If you notice, the tip of the cascade prostrate juniper to the right declines past the bottom of the pot This characteristic must be present for the plant to be considered a cascade.
A cascade planting usually looks best in a round or hexagonal container. I have even seen a few that were set "root over rock" This plant has since been completly restyled and is now a shohin informal upright.
Recommended Species: Junipers are probubly the most common but many flowering species are also suitable.
Semi-cascade Style
The semicascade style like this shimpaku juniper, has a curving trunk that does not reach the bottom of the container as in the cascade style. Pimes, Junipers and flowering plants are well adapted to both of these styles.
Recommended Species: Many species are suitable, except strongly upright ones. Flowering cherries, cedars and junipers work well.
