Rare Bonsai Trees

Here are some gorgeous, unusual, and rare bonsai  trees to lighten your space!

Have you ever dreamed of a miniature tree to have at your home? Bonsai is the cutest, safest, and most striking option for you. Training a regular tree and letting it grow in a miniature version is an art. There are a plethora of bonsai tree species worthy of praise.

Nowadays, having a green companion in your home or business is essential. In addition to lighting up the space and enhancing your space’s beauty, they also offer plenty of other benefits. For instance, having miniature trees in your home or workplace improves your mental health. Similarly, these green companions absorb atmospheric pollutants so you can breathe fresher, cleaner air.

Unfortunately, since many people struggle with a lack of space, especially in big cities, it is hard to accommodate regular-size trees. So, the best alternative for bringing greenery indoors is to grow miniature trees.

These miniature trees stand out for their dazzling and stately appearance while also having the ability to depict balance and realism. If you are ready to try your hands on the bonsai, these unusual bonsai are worth considering.

 

Rare and Unusual Bonsai

1.      Money Bonsai Tree – Braided Trunk (Pachira Aquatica)

 

 

Money bonsai with a braided trunk provides a rare bonsai look and stunning appearance. These unusual bonsai trees are also referred to as “good luck trees” and “good fortune trees.” Native to Central and South America, the money plant is a member of the Malvaceae family.

These tropical plants are excellent for indoor and outdoor growth and often have a braided trunk. The process of growing a money bonsai is straightforward as long as you have good know-how. While these trees are a great pick for bonsai growing, they are especially excellent if you are interested in feng shui.

Care Tips

•          Place your money bonsai in a very bright spot with plenty of sunlight.
•          Let the soil dry out between watering to prevent root damage.
•          Fertilization in spring to mid-autumn will promote vigorous growth.
•          Vigorous pruning is essential in late winter.
•          Repotting should be done every two-three years in spring. Repot your plant before the buds begin to swell.

 

2.      Butterfly Japanese Maple (Acer Palmatum)

 

The Japanese butterfly maple has its origins in Japan, China, and Korea. These rare bonsai are some of the most dazzling and unusual bonsai options. They are popular among gardening enthusiasts due to their stunning and brightly colored fall foliage. Growing a buttery Japanese Maple is easy; even a novice can grow these plants as a bonsai.

Moreover, these compact bonsai trees have a moderate growth habit that slows down with age. Their broadly spreading crown produces layered branching with beautiful palm-shaped leaves. Since they are easy to care for, Japanese butterfly maple does not need much skill to thrive.

In addition to their ease of care, these bonsais do not need as much light as other bonsai varieties. They have fine delicate branches that you can shape easily, meaning they lend themselves well to the techniques used in bonsai training.

 

Care Tips

•          Place your bonsai in a sunny and airy location.
•          Keep your bonsai somewhere with indirect sunlight when temperatures rise to 30C (85F).
•          Water your Japanese maple daily, especially during the growing season.
•          Solid, organic fertilizers with essential micronutrients will promote vigorous growth.
•          You can trim shoots and twigs all year round.
•          Report your bonsai every two-three years.

 

3.      Juniper Bonsai– Cascade Style (Juniper Procumbens Nana)

 

Juniper trees are trendy for bonsai growing, mainly due to their aesthetic foliage and ease of care. These unusual bonsai trees have their origins in Europe, North America, and Asia. Juniper bonsai with compact growth habit is a stand-out option for bonsai growing techniques.

Moreover, these plants produce evergreen, needle-like foliage ranging from dark green to steely blue, depending on the species. Since some species are low-lying shrubs, they make gorgeous cascading bonsai because of their downward growth habit.

 

Care Tips

•          You can keep your bonsai outdoors year-round in a bright spot with plenty of sunlight.
•          Growing Juniper bonsai indoors can be challenging.
•          Avoid overwatering, as your bonsai roots don’t like sitting in wet soil. So, let the soil dry out between watering.
•          Standard organic fertilizer pellets once a month or a liquid fertilizer once a week will promote healthier growth.
•          You should repot your bonsai every two years. 

 

4.      Flowering Tropical Dwarf Apple Bonsai (Clusia Rosea Nana)

 

 

Imagine having a miniature apple tree with tiny apple fruits emerging on your table! An apple bonsai tree is among rare bonsai trees that you will love to have on your coffee table as an enticing piece. These bonsais are genuinely remarkable and bear real miniaturized apples.

Moreover, apple trees are also excellent for bonsai growing due to their dense form, plenty of green leaves, and stunning flowers. Having one in your home or workplace will let you enjoy their dazzling, fragrant pink and white flowers, followed by green fruits. In addition, these plants can be grown indoors and outdoors.

 

Care Tips

•          Your apple bonsai thrive in sunlight and plenty of aeration.
•          It needs plenty of water, especially during the growing season.
•          Solid organic fertilizer every four weeks will promote healthier growth. Alternatively, you can also use a balanced fertilizer every week.
•          Pruning your apple bonsai in late autumn is recommended.
•          Ensure to repot your bonsai every year in spring.

 

5.      Pineapple Bonsai (Ananas Nana)

 

 

Pineapples are yummy and delicious, but have you ever heard of a miniature pineapple tree? These unusual bonsai plants bring the luxury of tropical fruits into your home. Native to South America, pineapple bonsai is a member of the bromeliad family. Growing pineapple bonsai is straightforward, and even a novice can raise one.

Despite being a tropical plant, growing a pineapple bonsai doesn’t mean you should be living in a tropical climate or building a greenhouse to raise your plant indoors. Although growing a pineapple bonsai with edible fruits is challenging and takes considerable time, it is worth the effort and time to have beautiful pineapple foliage as an attractive house décor.

 

Care Tips

•          While your rare bonsai plant should thrive indoors in plenty of light, it also loves being placed outdoors in spring and summer.
•          You should never neglect to water your plant. Water it before the soil looks dry, and never allow it to become dehydrated.
•          Fertilizing your pineapple bonsai is essential to maintain its charm and healthy growth. You can use any general-purpose liquid fertilizer.
•          Regular trimming will help you keep your plant miniature.
•          Periodic repotting is also essential.

 

6.      Baby Jade Bonsai – Stone Landscape Scene (Portulacaria Afra)

 

 

Jade bonsai is one of the aesthetic bonsais that you can efficiently train and grow into a pleasing shape of a miniature tree. Also known as dwarf jade or elephant bush, these plants are small succulent shrubs native to South America. They produce small leaves and have woody stems. In addition, although baby jade resembles common jade plants, they have some differences.

Moreover, their unusual growing shape makes these rare bonsai plants unique. For instance, you can grow these bonsais in hanging baskets, and they will trail down the planter edges. Further, they have a slow growth rate and can survive over a hundred years.

 

Care Tips

•          They grow best indoors in temperature zones. However, you can still grow them outdoors by providing them with plenty of sunlight and temperature.
•          Baby jade leaves hold plenty of water, meaning they need water sparsely. Let your bonsai soil dry out between watering.
•          Fertilizing once a month in spring through autumn should promote healthier growth.
•          It responds well to pruning, so regular pruning is beneficial.
•          Annual repotting of these unusual bonsai plants is essential and should be carried out in spring.

 

 

7.      Flowering Premna Bonsai (Premna obtusifolia)

 

Flowering Premna is a small shrub and a member of the Lamiaceae family. These unusual bonsai plants are famous for producing elegant flowers and fruits between May and November. In addition, flowering Premna attracts plentiful butterflies and bees during their bloom season.

These plants are sub-tropical and can be found in various countries, including Malaysia, Taiwan, etc. What makes these plants a favorite bonsai is their trunk’s unique texture. In addition, the flowering Premna is also prized for its brightly-colored shiny leaves and dancing, twisted trunk, which looks quite elegant. Since Premna has few pest issues, it is especially a favorite bonsai for novice gardeners.

 

Care Tips

•          It thrives in high temperatures and should be kept in airy places with plenty of sunlight.
•          Since they have robust growth and produce many roots, they need frequent watering.
•          Solid organic fertilizer once a month during the growing season is beneficial. Alternatively, you can use a liquid fertilizer once a week.
•          Pruning new long shoots are recommended. In addition, larger branches of premna bonsai should be pruned in summer.
•          Premna bonsai needs repotting every 2-3 years in spring.

 

8.      Globe Blue Spruce (Picea Pungens Globosa)

 

Globe Blue Spruce is one of the most striking rare bonsai trees. They are evergreen coniferous trees native to cool forested northern hemisphere regions. Blue spruce belongs to the Pinaceae family and produces distinctive blue-green needle-like leaves.

In addition, their charming blue-colored foliage makes these unusual bonsai an attractive option. They grow in a compact, pyramidal shape, with leaves spreading around the stems. The gray-brown trunk that becomes thicker and rigger supports their dense, blue foliage. Moreover, these bonsais produce tiny monoecious inconspicuous (male-female flowers) followed by small cones.

 

Care Tips

•          Globe blue spruce bonsai should be kept in full sun, especially during the growing season. In winter, however, you can place your plant in partial shade.
•          Thoroughly watering your plant is beneficial. However, avoid overwatering as their roots don’t like sitting wet for longer periods.
•          Solid organic fertilizer every four weeks or a liquid fertilizer once a week during the growing season will promote healthier growth.
•          Because of the whorled growth, your bonsai will have plenty of branches on the trunk. Pinch new shoots in spring and prune back long branches.
•          Blue spruce bonsai needs repotting every three-four years.

 

9.      Flowering Desmodium Bonsai (Desmodium Unifoliatium)

 

 

Flowering Desmodium bonsai is a rare bonsai plant belonging to a genus of plant species that numbers in the hundreds. While these plants are legumes and often used in farming, they make elegant houseplants and provide food and habitat for wildlife.

Despite some species growing as tall as 4 feet, flowering desmodium tends to grow like a trailing ground cover. However, if you give them the right, they can grow upright. Interestingly, you can plant flowering desmodium as a lovely groundcover or climbing vine. In addition, their ability to add nitrogen to the soil is a bonus. They produce gorgeous, late-summer flowers in a variety of colors.

 

Care Tips

•          Your desmodium bonsai will thrive in full sun. However, they also grow well in partial shade.
•          They need to be watered every three days. In hot temperatures, ensure to keep the soil moist but avoid humidity.
•          Liquid fertilizer from spring to autumn every two weeks is beneficial for healthier growth.

 

10. Flowering Dwarf Plum (Carissa Macrocarpa)

 

Flowering dwarf plum (Natal plum) bonsai is an excellent pick for bonsai beginners and professionals alike. These subtropical perennials produce gorgeous, fragrant flowers followed by sweet fruits, making them an attractive bonsai option indoors and outdoors. Dwarf plum rare bonsai trees are evergreen and produce dark-green, leathery leaves with rounded tips.

Moreover, stems have thorns, and their white blooms have a fragrance similar to gardenia. The blooms, in turn, produce edible, purple fruits during summer and fall. It is worth remembering that, except fruits, all parts of dwarf plums are poisonous.

 

Care Tips

•          Your dwarf plum bonsai needs moderate watering. Be cautious not to overwater your bonsai as it is susceptible to root rot.
•          If you are growing indoors, using a moisture tray will help retain humidity which is beneficial for your bonsai health.
•          Since these bonsais thrive in a slightly acidic environment, using an acid fertilizer every two weeks during the growing season is beneficial.
•          Minor trimming year-round will help you maintain its shape. However, major pruning should be carried out in mid to late spring.
•          Repotting your dwarf plum bonsai should be done in the fall.

 

Wrapping Up

There you have it – 10 rare bonsai trees that you can grow in your home without worrying about space. While growing these unusual bonsai plants takes patience and a lot of effort, they are worth it. They are excellent green companions that help lighten up your space while also purifying the air so you can breathe fresh.

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