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. |