BONSAI STARTER PLANTS

Ponytail palm, Pony Tail, bottle palm, nolina, elephant-foot tree. Palm-looking succulent with greatly swollen trunk base and the curved, narrow leaves. Very cute plants with large caudex. Drought tolerant plant that require very little care if any. Can tolerate some freeze.

Spiny Black Olive, Ming Tree. Exotic small tree that is valuable as unusual bonsai subject or specimen plant. This delicate tree grows into a bonsai almost by itself! Can be used as a potted indoor tree. It is very salt tolerant, making it a good choice for bonsai lovers by the sea. Bonsai shapes are awesome. They have small leaves and thorns and and grow out erratically in all directions, forming diamond-like lace.

Very showy red-flowered rare Powdepuff, very fast growing and spacey shrub. It is very cold tolerant, survived 3 nights of 25F hard freeze in our garden. Great solution for subtropical gardens to get exotic look and yet survive occasional freezes.
It is a many-stemmed dense shrub, the branches grow from ground level, and the leaves consist of tiny crowded leaflets that fold together at night or by touch. The fine, feathery and large flowers are a deep scarlet color and borne among the green foliage from spring to autumn. Great bonsai plant.

West African Sickle bush, Aroma, Kalahari Christmas tree, Chinese lantern tree, Marabou-thorn, Princess's Earrings. Interesting powderpuff-like pink flowers make this plant unforgettable. Good plant for bonsai.

Rock Fig, Rock Ficus, Texcalamate, Lava Fig. Very showy velvet leaves with purple veins. Forms a caudex, good for bonsai. If planted in ground, grows in a small tree. The more water you give this plant the bigger it will grow and vice versa. This plant has nice caudex. In winter may drop some leaves.

This Dwarf Miniature Creeping Gardenia offers nearly all the beloved traits of larger gardenias - lush evergreen foliage, heavenly fragrance, and elegant white blooms - in a compact, manageable form. Its modest size, spreading habit, and relative tolerance make it an excellent choice for container gardening, small landscapes, or even bonsai enthusiasts. With attention to soil acidity, drainage, and consistent moisture, this little plant can deliver big delight.
See page about gardenias, their cultivation and varieties

Half n Half Parrot's Beak - is a rare variegated form - can be great for Bonsai. Meet a wild twist on a classic favorite! This rare variegated variety of Gmelina philippensis brings all the charm of the traditional Parrots Beak and then some. What makes it special? Its leaves are half green, half creamy-white, creating a striking two-tone effect on every branch. Some call it a conversation starter we call it one-of-a-kind!
- Compact growth and ivy-shaped foliage make it ideal for bonsai. The leaves reduce beautifully with training.
- Fast grower with a naturally tidy canopy.
- Produces eye-catching yellow flowers shaped like parrot beaks, hanging in chain-like racemes.
- Develops character as it ages: spiny branches, textured bark, and an artistic form perfect for styling.
- Tropical and easy-going - loves full sun, moderate water, and warmth.
Note: Gmelina is pronounced "Melina" - the G is silent, but the plant is anything but!
Classic Parrots Beak is a unique round shrub with whimsical pendant branches and leaves and flowers that unmistakably resemble a parrots beak.
The leaves, in their comical way, mimic a parrot doing a joyful handstand. Vibrant and green, they bring smiles effortlessly.
The yellow blossoms are like mini parrot beaks hanging upside-down, creating a perpetual garden carnival all year long.
Check out video about Parrots Beak.

Rare in collections. This plant will make a showy bonsai with maple-like leaves.

A remarkable Morning Glory native to arid regions of Argentina. Like other caudiciform species, it has swollen stems containing water-storage tissue, and can survive extended periods of drought. Give it a well-drained soil, keep it moist and keep it out of the full sun. The caudex will grow to more than 2 ft, the vines reach for more than 12 ft. The bell-shaped flowers are pink. The plant is very showy; it can be kept in a pot as a bonsai and is easy to control as a container specimen, just needs a little trellis, otr can be pruned. Fast growing.
See picture of plants with caudex

Jaboticaba. One of the most popular native fruit of Brazil. Grape-like purple fruit with a thick skin and delicious melting pulp somewhat resembling Northern Black Currant in flavor. Small white flowers grow right on the trunk ("cauliflora" means "flowers growing on trunk). Trees grow very slowly and due to small leaves and dwarfish growth habit are often used as bonsai. Some old bonsai specimens can fruit.
See video about a mail ordered Jaboticaba tree.

Jacaranda trees are known for their stunning purple flowers, which bloom in late spring and early summer. These trees are native to South America and are commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. Jacaranda trees are fast-growing and can reach heights of up to 50 feet. They have a distinctive umbrella-like canopy and fern-like leaves, which make them popular as ornamental trees in gardens and parks. In addition to their attractive flowers, jacaranda trees are also prized for their hardwood, which is strong and durable. The wood is often used in the construction of furniture and other wood products. Jacaranda trees are also known for their ability to thrive in a variety of soil conditions and are resistant to many pests and diseases. They are relatively easy to care for, making them a popular choice for gardeners and landscapers. Overall, jacaranda trees are a beautiful and versatile addition to any garden, and their striking purple flowers are sure to add a splash of color to any landscape.
See Article about this plant.

Coral Jatropha - small, miniature tree or medium size shrub. Red flowers look like corals, followed by curious yellow fruit. Exotic looking specimen plant, easy to grow, very tropical look. Drought tolerant. Can be grown in a pot, makes a nice palm-looking house plant.

Jatropha (Gout plant) is an attention grabber and a must in every tropical garden. It has a large bottle-like caudex and huge leaves up to 10-12 inches in diameter. The more shade, the bigger the leaves. Great natural bonsai. Makes a good potted plant but can also be used as a conversation piece specimen in a small garden.

Corkbush. Outstanding sprays of purple/lilac, pea-like flowers cover the shrub from early Spring thru Summer, attracting butterflies. Very showy "corky" bark. Great plant for bonsai!

Dwarf form of favorite Pandanus with large heads of cascading green and yellow thin leaves. You can have a nice exotic Screw Pine as a dwarf in a pot.

Elephant's Food, Elephant Bush, Baby Jade. This interesting plant can be used as an indoor bonsai where sunlight or strong artificial light is sufficiently available. The common names derive from the succulent nature of the plant's leaves and stout trunk. The diameter of the trunk can grow to 9" or more.
In Africa, it is a favorite food for both Elephants and Rhinoceros, and is grown in farms for feeding both animals and people. The foliage when eaten raw, steamed, lightly boiled, or especially stir-fried, is not only delicious but actually very nutritious, containing more beneficial Beta 3 fatty acids than most fish.
Read interesting Article about this plant.

Shaving Brush Tree - Bonsai Starter, 3 year old very cute looking plant with large caudex. This is one of the best candidates in existence for large bonsai! Although this plant can grow into a giant tree, but it can also be kept contained in a pot: this causes it to grow a massive caudex that resembles a tortoise shell! It is a unique choice for bonsai due to its striking flowers and distinctive trunk. As a bonsai, it features a swollen base (caudex) that gives it a sturdy and aged look, even when young. Huge, brush-like white flowers that look like shaving brushes emerge after winter dormancy, before foliage. It's a beautiful and exotic option for bonsai enthusiasts.

Starfish Flower, Giant Toad Flower, Carrion Flower. This spine-free succulent, Stapelia gigantea, is one of the plant world's giants and belongs to the milkweed family. It thrives in dry desert areas from Tanzania to South Africa. Its name "Carrion" comes from its unique scent that's similar to rotting meat, attracting pollinating flies who find the aroma irresistible. The standout feature of this plant is its large, fleshy star-shaped flowers, flaunting pale ochre-yellow petals with thin maroon lines. It blooms in the fall when daylight hours shorten. Despite its unusual smell, it makes for a stunning container plant with its 4-angled, succulent stems that grow upright to 8-12" before sprawling sideways. Plants in the ground can reach up to 24" wide. When it seeds, each pod looks like a mini milkweed parachute. Let's also appreciate its interesting background - the genus name honors Dutch physician Johannes Bodaeus van Stapel from the 1600s.
See video: Bizzare starfish flower - Stapelia gigantea.

Wrightia religiosa - Sacred Buddhist, Water Jasmine, or Wondrous Wrightia - is one of Thailand's most treasured fragrant tropical plants. This elegant flowering shrub produces masses of delicate white pendant flowers with an enchanting fruity-jasmine fragrance that can perfume an entire patio or garden. Blooming almost year round in warm climates, it is widely planted near temples and homes throughout Southeast Asia and is considered sacred in Buddhist culture. The single-flowered form is more vigorous and easier to grow than the double varieties, with graceful twiggy branching that also makes it an outstanding bonsai subject. Prefers well-draining soil, regular watering, and partial to full sun. May become deciduous in cooler winter weather below 65F but quickly returns with warmth.

Variegated Sacred Buddhist - veriegated semi-dwarf variety of wrightia, it is one of the most beautiful, exciting and useful plants among fragrant tropicals. A very fragrant, enchanting shrub, flowers are fruity scented, pendant, are born along its twiggy branches. See picture of bonsai.May drop leaves in winter.

Heat Pack (Shipping Warmer) maintains warm temperature while plants are in transit for up to 72-96 hours (depending on outside temperature). Heat Pack is a must if temperature drops below 40F in your area. Large orders require 2-3 packs. When ordering large 3-7 gal size plants (especially sensitive ultra-tropical plants), you may need 1 pack per plant. Contact us for more information and advise on particular species.
Without heat pack, your order shipping may be postponed until weather permitting.

Bougainvillea arborea is a thornless and fragrant species. Free-standing small bushy tree with lavender-pink blooms. Very rare variety very much wanted because its compact and slow growth habit. The tree usually doesn

Bougainvillea Sunvillea Rose (also called Dwarf Pixie) is deep pink, almost a magenta in color. It blooms the brightest of fuchsia-pink bracts contrasting with its bright green foliage. If you're looking for a pick-me-up for your container gardens, or a dull space in the landscape, here's your winner!
It is a dwarf form of thornless Bougainvillea with extremely slow growth rate. These showy evergreen dwarf beauties have numerous bright colorful bracts growing in an upright habit. This plant flowers in a small as a 4" pot and is great for landscapes and patio containers. It has a shape of natural bonsai, and leaves are smaller. Bright flowers are born in dense clusters. 3-4 y.o. plants can stay only 3-4 ft and look like natural bonsai trees. They stay compact, perfectly round and dense shape, don't require pruning, making a must-have for any garden, especially for the small spaces in your yard.
See picture of the mature tree in 7 gal pot

Jamaican Rain Tree. Rare slow growing plant, can be grown as bonsai or small specimen tree. Very showy flowers.

Calliandra riparia, Calliandra schultzei, Dwarf Powderpuff - great for bonsai. See picture of the 3 y.o. bonsai. If grown without training, the plant will make a nice bushy little tree.
A dwarf variety, perfect houseplant, good for bonsai. Beautiful oriental looking plant.
Fluffy, pink "powderpuff" flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Grows as a small, bushy shrub in pots but can develop into a larger, bushy tree when planted in the ground.
Thrives in full sun to partial shade and becomes drought-tolerant once established.