a comprehensive guide to understanding the different broadleaf species and subgenres
The broadleaf genre encompasses an expansive array of tree and shrub species surviving throughout an infinite range of climates and conditions worldwide. Defined by their broad, flat leaf shape, broadleafs efficiently harness the sun's energy, creating abundant resources, sequestering carbon, purifying the air, and generating sugars and essential foods for human survival. Their ability to produce seeds within fruit enables rapid and abundant regeneration, while their changing canopy celebrates seasonality through flowers, fruit, and charming foliar character. Trees of this genre may seem less hardy and delicate. Still, the broadleaf world is a force to be reckoned with and is rich in intricate nuances that demand a wealth of scientific, horticultural, technical, and aesthetic knowledge to harness its potential truly. It's a fact that the broadleaf genre is indispensable for our planet's health and is firmly anchored as a staple of the bonsai practice.
"Their ability to produce seeds within fruit enables rapid and abundant regeneration, while their changing canopy celebrates seasonality through flowers, fruit, and charming foliar character."
1. Subgenre: Broadleaf Deciduous
Among the subgenres of the broadleaf realm, the deciduous category stands out as the predominant representative most commonly utilized in the bonsai practice. From the iconic Japanese and trident maples gracing the pages of the Kokufu albums to the windswept beech and contorted Carpinus defining the rugged boundaries of eastern Europe, their diversity of character and form make broadleaf deciduous species limitless in their capacity to represent nature in miniature. This infinite design potential is further accentuated by the diversity of the deciduous subgenres across four seasons of changing foliar interest. The naked silhouette of winter twigs gives rise to spring leaves' lush emergence, symbolizing life's cyclic rhythm. In summer, the dense canopy provides coolness, shade, and shelter, enhancing the environment through transpiration. As autumn arrives, the spectacle of changing foliage colors marks a transition toward winter dormancy, prompting contemplation of the beauty inherent in seasonal change. These magical transformations occurring year in and year out make it easy to see why deciduous species dominate the broadleaf bonsai practice.
Broadleaf Deciduous:
Asia
Amur Maple - Acer ginnala
Apple - Malus (spp.)
Burning Bush - Euonymus alatus
Binan Kazura - Kadsura japonica
Chinese Elm - Ulmus parvifolia (spp.)
Chinese Quince - Pseudocydonia sinensis
Coral Bark Japanese Maple - Acer palmatum ’Sango-kaku’
Crabapple - Malus sieboldii
Deshojo Japanese Maple - Acer palmatum ‘Deshojo'
Dwarf Japanese Beech - Fagus crenata ‘Fuji’
Dwarf Japanese Maple - Acer palmatum ‘Kotohime’
Dwarf Japanese Quince - Chaenomeles japonica ‘Chojubai’
Flowering Cherry - Prunus serrulata
Flowering Cherry - Prunus speciosa
Flowering Pear - Pyrus (spp.)
Hokkaido Elm - Ulmus parvifolia ‘Hokkaido’
Japanese Apricot - Prunus mume
Japanese Beech - Fagus crenata
Japanese Dogwood - Cornus kousa
Japanese Holly - Ilex serrata
Japanese Maple - Acer palmatum
Japanese Plum - Prunus salicina
Japanese Quince - Chaenomeles japonica
Japanese Rose - Rosa multiflora
Korean Hornbeam - Carpinus turczaninowii
Rough Bark Japanese Maple - Acer palmatum ‘Arakawa’
Seigen Japanese Maple - Acer palmatum ’Seigen’
Seiju Elm - Ulmus parvifolia ’Seiju’
Stewart - Stewartia monadalpha
Trident Maple - Acer buergerianum
Winter Hazel - Corylopsis spicata
Wisteria - Wisteria (spp.)
Yatsubusa Elm - Ulmus parvifolia 'Yatsubusa'
Europe
Blackthorn - Prunus spinosa
Common Hawthorn - Crataegus monogyna
European Beech - Fagus sylvatica
European Hornbeam - Carpinus orientalis
Field Maple - Acer campestre
Little-Leaf Linden - Tilia cordata
Silver Birch - Betula pendula
Tamarisk - Tamarix (spp.)
North America
American Beech - Fagus grandifolia
American Hornbeam - Carpinus caroliniana
Ash - Fraxinus (spp.)
Blue Oak - Quercus douglasii
California Black Oak - Quercus kelloggii
Eastern Redbud - Cercis canadensis
Paper Birch - Betula papyrifera
Pacific Crabapple - Malus fusca
Pacific Dogwood - Cornus nuttallii
Porcelain Berry - Amur peppervine
Potentilla - Potentilla
Quaking Aspen - Populus tremuloides
Red Maple - Acer rubrum
River Birch - Betula nigra
Valley Oak - Quercus lobata
Vine Maple - Acer circinatum
Western Redbud - Cercis occidentalis
2. Subgenre: Broadleaf Evergreen
Broadleaf evergreen species excel in diverse climates, starkly contrasting to their deciduous counterparts. From shaded enclaves of the coastal understory in regions season-less without four seasons of change to the arid high deserts void of shelter from the beating sun and oscillating in temperature and climatic extremes from one day to the next, the broadleaf evergreen subgenre contains species adapted to survive nearly anywhere. Their thick, rigid cuticle and specialized traits of leaf physiology allow evergreen species to maintain their foliar mass year-round, conserving moisture and enduring temperature extremes. These adaptations demand an equal and opposite understanding and respect if we are to harness the potential of the evergreen realm in bonsai. However, this is a small price for the endearing combination of rugged elegance that is a testament to life's ability to thrive amidst adversity in a way only a broadleaf evergreen could convey.
Broadleaf Evergreen:
Asia
Asiatic jasmine - Trachelospermum asiaticum
Camellia - Camellia japonica / sasanqua
Cape Jasmin - Gardenia jasmenoides
Firethorn - Pyracantha (spp.)
Japanese Boxwood - Buxus macrophylla
Pieris - Pieris japonica
Silverberry - Eleagnus pungens
Tea Plant - Camellia sinensis
Europe
Boxwood - Buxus sempervirens
Common Thyme - Thymus vulgaris
Cork Bark Oak - Quercus suber
European Olive - Olea europaea
Heather - Calluna vulgaris
Rosemary - Rosmarinus officinalis
North America
Canyon Oak / GoldCup Oak - Quercus chrysolepis
Coast Live Oak - Quercus agrifolia
Kingsville Boxwood - Buxus microphylla
Engelmann Oak - Quercus engelmanii
Interior Live Oak - Quercus wislizeni
Manzanita - Arctostaphylos (spp.)
Sage Brush - Artemisia (spp.)
Silverberry - Eleagnus (spp.)
3. Subgenre: Azalea
Satsuki Azaleas are prized in Japan for their showy blooms, emerging once a year in a crescendo of their bonsai aesthetic. With over 1200 varieties, the diversity of flower shape, texture, and color makes Satstuki an art form and practice all unto itself, distant at times from the common bonsai realm but united by the azaleas' equally undeniable strength and character in its trunk and branching. Maintaining the delicate balance between encouraging flowering and preserving an azalea bonsai's health requires careful management, appropriate technique, and impeccable timing. Azaleas are water-loving but hate to stay too wet. Depending on the variety of Satsuki, container cultivation, fertilization needs, heat, and light exposure may all differ. For some varieties, strategic pruning thins out dense foliage and promotes fresh, water-conductive growth that supports flower formation. For others, less pruning facilitates a more airy, delicate aesthetic that allows a particular style of bloom to shine. Successfully cultivating Satsuki Azalea bonsai demands a nuanced approach that integrates horticultural expertise with artistic sensibility, allowing practitioners to showcase the full splendor of these prized trees within the confines of the bonsai container.
Broadleaf Azalea:
Asia
Indica Azalea - Rhododendron indicum
Kurume Azalea - Rhododendron obtusum
Japanese Azalea - Rhododendron japonicum
Kaempferi Azalea - Rhododendron kaempferi
Kiusianum Azalea - Rhododendron kiusianum
Poukan Azalea - Rhododendron poukhanense
Satsuki Azalea - Rhododendron indicum
Royal Azalea - Rhododendron schlippenbachii
Sims Azalea - Rhododendron simsii
4. Subgenre: Tropical
Tropical broadleaf bonsai flourish within equatorial climates' perpetual warmth, making their training as bonsai an exercise in observation. Because of their strength in hot and humid conditions, tropical species are equally weak in cold and arid cultivation environments, necessitating work in the year's warmest months. This direct contrast to their temperate counterparts makes creating tropical bonsai a perfect complement to the common bonsai practice. It empowers practitioners to work on bonsai year-round via the demands of these different subgenera. Besides their rapid growth rate, broadleaf tropical species unveil breathtaking beauty when meticulously nurtured, generating aesthetic prosperity often overlooked within the broader bonsai community. Their lush foliage, vibrant colors, and intricate forms epitomize the artistry and potential inherent in cultivating bonsai from tropical origins, offering enthusiasts a captivating avenue for exploration and expression within the rich tapestry of bonsai artistry.
Broadleaf Tropical:
Asia
Chinese Banyan - Ficus microcarpa
Fukien Tea - Carmona retusa
Indian Laurel Fig - Ficus retusa
Rubber Tree - Ficus elastica
Sacred Fig - Ficus religiosa
Snow Rose - Serissa foetida
Weeping Fig - Ficus benjamina
Willow Leaf Fig - Ficus salicaria
Africa
Desert Rose - Adenium obesum
South America
Bougainvillea - Bougainvillea (spp.)
5. Subgenre: Succulent
The succulent bonsai subgenre is a distinct grouping of arborescent succulent species that grow in a tree form. These unique, primarily Mediterranean, drought-tolerant trees deviate from traditional broadleaf and evergreen species and offer a creative and unique approach to bonsai cultivation. Arborescent succulent bonsai thrive with neglect and minimal watering, necessitating different cultivation techniques and environments. These factors meet their needs and pave the way for the highly coveted indoor bonsai model. Only a little is known about how to appropriately and successfully reduce their proportions and manipulate their structure. We do know that their aesthetic is otherworldly and beautiful in a way we don't commonly experience in the more traditional bonsai realm, but whose character sheds light on underrepresented landscapes that speak to the vastness of diversity in the natural world.
Succulents:
Asia
Aloe Vera - Aloe vera
Indian Laurel Fig - Ficus retusa
Africa
Desert Rose - Adenium obesum
Elephant Bush - Portulacaria afra
Haworthia - Haworthia (spp.)
Jade Plant - Crassula ovata
Madagascar Palm - Pachypodium lamerei
Miniature Pine Tree - Crassula tetragona
Silver Dollar Jade - Crassula argentea
Indian Laurel Fig - Ficus retusa
In the diverse world of broadleaf species, it's hard to deny that there's a more complex or fascinating tree genre. The aesthetic opportunities are endless, from the elegance and seasonal diversity of deciduous species to the rugged beauty of broadleaf evergreens. From the humid adaptations of tropical varieties to the succulent subgenera inhabiting the most arid landscapes on earth, the range of cultivation strategies makes the broadleaf realm a never-ending pursuit of exploration and discovery that highlights the beauty of nature's adaptations through the artistry of bonsai creation. Each species presents unique challenges and revelations, from seasonal transitions to resilient survival in harsh climates. Through careful shaping and nurturing, practitioners craft living artworks that celebrate the beauty and resilience of life. In this exploration, they deepen their connection to nature, finding fulfillment in artistic expression and reverence for its boundless creativity.
"The broadleaf realm offers endless aesthetic opportunities, from the elegance of deciduous species to the rugged beauty of broadleaf evergreens, making it a never-ending pursuit of exploration and discovery."
Notes:
Written by: Ryan Neil
Designed and Edited by: Lani Milton and Leah Liebler
Photography by Bonsai Mirai
