Dictionary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

A
Abies alba	Silver fir.
Abies koreana	Korean fir.
Abies lasiocarpa	Alpine fir.
Abies lasiocarpa ‘Arizonica’	Cork fir.
Accent plant	A separate, often seasonal. planting of grasses. bulbs, or small herbaceous plants displayed with a formal bonsai.
Acer buergerianum	Trident maple.
Acer buergerianum ‘Formosanum’	Formosan trident maple.
Acer campestre	Field maple.
Acer japonicum	Full moon maple.
Acer palamatum ‘Ukigomo’	Japanese maple ‘Ukigomo’.
Acer palmatum	Japanese maple.
Acer palmatum ‘Chishio’	Japanese red maple.
Acer palmatum ‘Deshojo’	Japanese red maple.
Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum’	Cut leaf Japanese maple.
Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum Atropurpureum’	Cut leaf Japanese purple maple.
Acer palmatum ‘Kagiri Nishiki’	Japanese maple ‘Kagiri Nishikí’.
Acer palmatum ‘Kashima’	Japanese maple ‘Kashima’.
Acer palmatum ‘Kiyohime’	Japanese maple ‘Kiyohime’.
Acer palmatum ‘Kotohime’	Japanese maple ‘Kotohime’.
Acer palmatum ‘Nishiki gawa’	Japanese maple ‘Nishiki gawa’.
Acer palmatum ‘Seigen’	Japanese red maple.
Air layering	Propagation method that encourages roots to form on a tree trunk or branch.
Akadama	Japanese granulate clay, used as bonsai soil.
Aka-matsu	Pinus densiflora, Japanese red pine.
Akanire	Ulmus, Elm.
Apex	In bonsai, this usually means the top part of the tree.
Ara-ki	Freshly dug tree, suitable as bonsai material.
Azalea	See ‘Rhododendron’.
B
Bankan	Trunk with many curves.
Beni-shitan	Cotoneaster horizontalis, Cotoneaster.
Berberis	Barberry.
Berberis buxifolia	Barberry.
Berberis darwinii	Barberry.
Berberis thunbergii	Barberry.
Betula nana	Dwarf birch.
Betula pendula	European silver birch.
Boke	Chaenomeles cardinalis, Flowering quince.
Bonkei	Natural landscapes planted in a dish. (rocks plants, figures etc.)
Bonsai	Tree in a shallow pot.
Bougainvillea buttiana	Bougainvillea ‘Orange King’.
Bougainvillea glabra	Bougainvillea.
Buna	Fagus, Beech.
Bunjin	or Bunjingi; Bonsai in literati style.
Buxus microphylla	Japanese box tree.
Buxus sempervirens	Common box tree.
C
Calluna vulgaris	Heather
Callus	Corky-textured tissue that forms over a wound on a branch.
Cambium	Narrow layer of cell tissue between the bark and wood of woody plants. The cambium of live wood is green and moist.
Camellia japonica	Common camellia.
Caragana arborescens	Chinese pea tree.
Carmona microphylla	Fukien tea; subtropical species.
Carpinus betulus	European hornbeam.
Carpinus japonica	Japanese hornbeam.
Carpinus laxiflora	Loose flowered hornbeam.
Carpinus turczaninowii	Korean hornbeam.
Castanea	Chesnut.
Cedrus	Cedar.
Cedrus atlantica	Atlas cedar.
Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’	Blue cedar.
Cedrus brevifolia	Cyprian cedar.
Cedrus deodora	Indian cedar.
Cedrus libani	Lebanon cedar.
Celtis sinensis	Chinese hackberry.
Cercis canadensis	American redbud.
Cercis siliquastrum	Judas tree.
Chaenomeles cardinalis	Flowering quince.
Chaenomeles japonica	Japanese quince.
Chaenomeles sinensis	Chinese quince.
Chamaecyparis obtusa	Hinoki cypress.
Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana Gracilis’	Dwarf hinoki cypress.
Chojubai	Chaenomeles japonica, Japanese quince.
Chokkan	Bonsai with upright trunk.
Chuhin	Bonsai up to 45 cm
Conifer	A tree that bears cones containing the seeds. Most conifers are evergreen.
Cornus controversa	Cherry.
Cornus kousa	Kousa dogwood.
Cornus officinalis	Japanese cornelian cherry.
Corylopsis pauciflora	Buttercup winter hazel.
Corylopsis spicata	Spiked winter hazel.
Corylus avellana	Hazel.
Corylus heterophylla	Japanese hazel.
Cotinus coggygria	Smoke tree.
Cotoneaster congestus	Dwarf cotoneaster.
Cotoneaster horizontalis	Rockspray cotoneaster.
Cotoneaster microfhyllus	Cotoneaster.
Crataegus cuneata	Japanese hawthorn.
Crataegus laevigata	English hawthorn.
Crown	The upper part of the tree where the branches spread out from the trunk.
Cryptomeria japonica	Japanese dwarf cedar.
Cultivar	Variant plant produced in cultivation: indicated by single quotation marks in its botanical name.
Cut paste	See ‘wound sealant’.
Cydonia oblonga	Common quince.
D
Dai	Wooden table fitting a suiseki stone.
Deciduous	Describing a tree or shrub that loses its leaves annually and often remains bare of leaves all winter.
Deshojo	Acer palmatum deshojo, Japanese red maple.
Deutzia gracilis	Duetzia.
Die back	The death of young shoots. due to bad weather or fungal disease.
E
Eda-zashi	Branch pruning.
Elaeagnus multiflora	Elaeagnus.
Elaeagnus pungens	Thorny elaeagnus.
Euonymus alatus	Winged spindle tree.
Euonymus europaeus	European spindle tree.
Euonymus sieboldianus	Japanese spindle tree.
Evergreen	Describing a tree or shrub that retains its leaves all year round.
Ezo-matsu	Picea, Spruce.
F
Fagus crenata	Japanese white beech.
Fagus japonica	Japanese black beech.
Fagus sylvatica	European beech.
Ficus benjamina	Weeping fig.
Ficus macrophylla	Moreton Bay fig.
Ficus platypoda	Australian fig.
Ficus punila	Creeping fig.
Ficus retusa	Banyan fig.
Forsythia intermedia	Forsythia.
Fortunella hindsii	Dwarf orange.
Fraxinus excelsior	European ash.
Fuchsia microphylla	Dwarf fuchsia.
Fuji	Wisteria floribunda, Japanese wisteria.
Fuji-sakura	Japanese flowering cherry.
Fukinagashi	Bonsai in windswept style.
G
Gardenia	Gardenia.
Genus	The unit of classification for a group of closely related plants: shown by the first word in the botanical name.
Ginkgo biloba	Maidenhair tree.
Goyo-matsu	Pinus parviflora, Japanese white pine.
Grafting	Propagation technique.
H
Habit	The characteristic growth pattern of a plant.
Hamamelis japonica	Japanese witch hazel.
Hankan	Bonsai with a very coiled trunk.
Han-kengai	Bonsai in semi-cascading style.
Hardy	Describing plants that are able to withstand winter frost.
Hariganekake	Wiring a tree.
Hedera helix	Common Ivy.
Himeringo	Apple.
Hinoki	Chamaecyparis obtusa, Hinoki cypress.
Hokidachi	Bonsai in broom style.
Hyakujikko	Lagerstroemia indica, Crab myrtle.
I
Ichii	Taxus, Yew.
Icho	Ginkgo, Maidenhair tree.
Ikadabuke	Bonsai in raft style.
Ilex crenata	Japenese evergreen holly.
Ilex serrata	Japanese deciduous holly.
Internodal distance	The length of stem between two nodes (leaf joints).
Ishitsuki	Rock grown bonsai.
J
Jasminum nudiflorum	Winter jasmine.
Jasminum officinale	Common white jasmine.
Jin	Or Eda-jin; artificially bleached branch.
Juniperus chinensis	Chinese juniper.
Juniperus communis	Common juniper.
Juniperus media ‘Blaauwii’	Chinese juniper.
Juniperus procumbens	Creeping juniper.
Juniperus rigida	Needle juniper.
Juniperus sabina	Savin juniper.
Juniperus sargentii	Sargent’s juniper.
Juniperus squamata ‘Meyeri’	Blue juniper.
Juvenile foliage	Young leaves of a tree that has distinclly different adult foliage.
K
Kabudachi	Clump-style bonsai; several trunks from a single root.
Kadsura japonica	Scarlet kadsura.
Kaede	Acer buergerianum, Trident maple.
Kaido	Malus, Crab apple.
Kanju	Deciduous trees.
Kanuma	Soil for azaleas.
Karikomi	Pruning of leaves and branches.
Karin	Chaenomeles sinensis, Chinese quince.
Kengai	Bonsai in cascading style.
Keto-tsuchi	See ‘peat’.
Keyaki	Zelkova, Japanese elm.
Kifu	Bonsai up to 35 cm.
Kiryu	Japanese rocky granulates, used for drainage in bonsai soil.
Kobushi	Magnolia stellata, Star magnolia.
Kokejun	Trunk that tapers towards the top.
Kuchinashi	Gardenia, Gardenia.
Kuro-matsu	Pinus thunbergii, Japanese black pine.
Kuruma-eda	Unsuitable branch that must be cut off.
Kusamono	See ‘accent plant’.
L
Lagerstroemia indica	Crab myrtle.
Larix decidua	European larch.
Larix kaemperferi	Japanese larch.
Leader	Generally, the main shoot, at the tip of a branch, that extends the branch growth: in bonsai, usually the uppermost continuation of the trunk.
Ligustrum ovalifolium	Oval-leaf privet.
Ligustrum vulgare	Common privet.
Liquidambar styraciflua	Sweet gum.
Lonicera japonica	Japanese honeysuckle.
Lonicera morowii	Honeysuckle.
Lonicera nitida	Dwarf honeysuckle.
M
Magnolia stellata	Star magnolia.
Malus cerasifera	Nagasaki crab apple.
Malus halliana	Hall’s crab apple.
Malus sieboldii	Crab apple.
Malus sylvestris	Common crab apple.
Mame	Bonsai up to 10 cm.
Mansaku	Coriylus heterophylla, Japanese witch hazel.
Mayumi	Euonymus sieboldianus, Japanese spindle tree.
Metasequoia glyptostroboides	Dawn redwood.
Mizuki	Cornus controversa, Cherry.
Momiji	Acer palmatum, Japanese maple.
Morus alba	White mulberry.
Moyogi	Bonsai in unformal upright style.
Murraya paniculata	Jasmine orange.
Myrtus apiculata	Myrtle.
Myrtus communis	Common myrtle.
N
Nandina domestica	Heavenly bamboo.
Natsutsubaki	Stewartia, Stewartia.
Neagari	Bonsai with exposed roots.
Nebari	Shape of the visible roots.
Nejikan	Bonsai with twisted trunk.
Netsuranari	Bonsai style with several trees growing from a single root.
Nishiki-matsu	Pinus thunbergii corticosa, Corkbark pine.
Nitrogen	Also known as (N); Essential element of plant nutrition: for growth above the ground, especially green tissue in leaves and stems.
Notofagus antarctica	Antarctic beech.
Notofagus procera	Southern beech.
NPK	Abbreviation used to denote the relative proportions of the minerals nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) contained in a fertilizer.
O
Obai	Jasminum nudiflorum, Winter jasmine.
Olea europaea	Olive.
P
Parthenocissus tricupidata	Boston Ivy.
Peat	Partly decomposed organic matter, found in bogs, marshes or heaths. It helps to retain moisture in potting soil.
Phosphorus	Also known as (P); Essential element of plant nutrition: for root development and ripening of fruits and seeds.
Phyllostachys	Golden bamboo.
Phyllostachys nigra	Black bamboo.
Picea abies	Norway spruce.
Picea abies ‘Little gem’	Dwarf spruce.
Picea abies ‘Nidiformis’	Bird’s nest spruce.
Picea glehnii	Sakhalin spruce.
Picea glehnii ‘Yatsubusa’	Dwarf sakhalin spruce.
Picea jezoensis	Jezo or edo spruce.
Pinching	Training or shaping a tree by gently pulling off soft new shoots with finger and thumb.
Pinus densiflora	Japanese red pine.
Pinus mugo	Mountain pine.
Pinus parviflora	Japanese white or five needle pine.
Pinus pentaphylla	See ‘Pinus parviflora’.
Pinus sylvestris	Scots pine.
Pinus thunbergii	Japanese black pine.
Pinus thunbergii ‘Corticosa’	Corkbark japanese black pine.
Podocarpus macrophyllus	Chinese podocarpus.
Pot bound	Describing a plant when its roots fill its pot and eliminate all air spaces.
Potassium	Also known as (K) Essential element of plant nutrition: for strong new growth, flower buds. and fruit. In horticulture, it is commonly known as potash.
Potentilla fructicosa	Potentilla.
Pruning	Cutting or pinching back shoots, leaves. and stems in order to control growth and to shape the plant.
Prunus avium	Japanese wild cherry.
Prunus cerasifera	Myrobalan plum.
Prunus dulcis	Elmond.
Prunus mume	Flowering apricot.
Prunus persica	Peach.
Prunus salicina	Japanese plum.
Prunus serrulata	Flowering cherry.
Prunus spinosa	Blackthorn.
Pseudosidonia sinensis	See ‘Chaenomeles sinensis’.
Punica granatum	Pomegranate.
Pyracantha	Firethorn.
Pyrus pyrifolia	Japanese pear.
Q
Quercus cerris	Turkey oak.
Quercus palustris	Pin oak.
Quercus robur	English oak.
R
Repotting	Regularly removing a plant from its pot. usually every year or so and replanting in fresh soil to encourage root growth.
Rhododendron indicum	Satsuki azalea.
Robinia pseudoacacia	False acacia.
Root pruning	Cutting back roots of a pot-bound plant to add fresh soil and encourage growth of new-roots.
Rootball	The mass of roots and soil seen when plant is lifted from container or ground.
S
Saba miki	Hollow trunk.
Sabamiki	Bonsai with split trunk.
Sageretia theezans	Sageretia.
Sahi-ho	Cutting.
Sahi-ki	Propagating by means of cuttings.
Saikei	Landscapes with rocks and trees.
Salix babylonica	Weeping willow.
Salix helvetica	Swiss willow.
Salix repens	Creeping willow.
Sankan	Triple-trunked bonsai.
Satsuki	Rhododendron indicum, Satsuki azalea.
Scorch	Foliage damage from strong sun or wind. or root damage from fertilizer overdose.
Seigen	Acer palmatum ‘Seigen’, Japanese red maple.
Seishi	Bonsai training.
Sequoia sempervirens	California redwood.
Serissa foetida	Tree of a tousand stars.
Shakan	Bonsai with slanting trunk.
Shari	Artificial dead wood parts on the trunk.
Sharimiki	Driftwood style.
Shimotsuke	Spiraea japonica, Japanese spiraea.
Shinpaku	Juniperus sinensis, Chinese juniper.
Shobyaku	Berberis, Barberry.
Shohaku	Coniferious trees.
Shohin	Bonsai up to 25 cm.
Sokan	Twin trunked bonsai.
Sophora japonica	Japanese pagoda tree.
Sorbus aucuparia	Mountain ash.
Soro	Carpinus japonica, Japanese hornbeam.
Species	Unit of classification for a plant that has particular characteristics: identified by the second word of its botanical name.
Sphagnum moss	Highly water-absorbent moss native to damp locations: used in air layering or to keep large wounds moist.
Spiraea japonica	Japanese spiraea.
Stewartia	Stewartia.
Stratification	Encouraging tree seeds to germinate by dispersing them in sand and subjecting them to cold conditions before sowing.
Styrax japonica	Snowbell.
Sugi	Cedrus, Japanese cedar.
Suiban	Shallow dish without a drainage hole.
Suiseki	Viewing stone.
Syringa velutina	Korean lilac.
T
Tachia-gari	Trunk region.
Tachinbana-modoki	Pyracantha, Firethorn.
Take	Bamboo.
Tamarix juniperina	Tamarisk.
Tanuki	Technique where a tree is planted against the trunk of another dead tree.
Tap root	A long. Anchoring root that grows vertically downwards in the soil: often, the first undivided root of a seedling.
Taxodium distichum	Swamp cypress.
Taxus baccata	Common yew.
Taxus cuspidata	Japanese yew.
Tender	Describing a plant that cannot withstand frost and may die if kept outdoors in the cold.
Thymus serpyllum	Thyme.
Tilia cordata	Small leaved lime.
Tokoname	A region in Japan that is a major centre for the manufacture and export of containers for bonsai.
Tokonoma	A niche or alcove built into a wall of a japanese house to display floral arrangements or bonsai.
Toriki	Technique of obtaining bonsai by airlayering.
Tosho	Juniperus rigida, Needle juniper.
Tsubaki	Camellia japonica, Common camellia.
Tsuga canadensis	Eastern hemlock.
Tsuga heterophylla	Western hemlock.
Tsuge	Buxus, Box tree.
Tsugi-ki	Technique of obtaining bonsai by crafting.
U
Ulmus glabra	Scots elm.
Ulmus parvifolia	Chinese elm.
Ulmus procera	English elm.
Ume	Prunus mume, Japanese flowering apricot.
Umemodoki	Ilex serrata, Japanese deciduous holly.
V
Vitis vinifera	Grape vine.
W
Weigela florida	Weigela.
Wisteria chinensis	Chinese wisteria.
Wisteria floribunda	Japanese wisteria.
Wound sealant	A compound that seals a cut in a branch or a trunk: it prevents sap bleeding and loss of moisture, and thus promotes healing.
Y
Yamadori	Collecting bonsai from the wild.
Yama-sakura	Prunus avium, Japanese wild cherry.
Yanagi	Salix babylonica, Weeping willow.
Yatsubusa	A particular type of dwarf form. with shorter intenodal distances and more buds than usual, and thus denser top-growth.
Yose-Ue	Forest planting or multiple tree style.
Z
Zakuro	Punica granatum, Pomegranate.
Zelkova serrata	Japanese elm.