Bonsai Pine Tree Types: Pine Species You May Consider
Pines are able to naturally take on a wide variety of forms, and as a result, they lend themselves to practically all bonsai techniques. As pine trees age, the outer layer of their bark develops a scaly or flaky appearance.
There must be an understanding of the nature of each bonsai pine tree types in order to treat it per its characteristics.
Jump To
- Can Any Pine Tree Be A Bonsai?
- How Do You Start A Bonsai Pine Tree?
- Bonsai Pine Snapshot
- Mexican weeping pine bonsai
- Ponderosa pine bonsai
- Scots Pine Bonsai
- Jerusalem pine bonsai
- Mountain pine bonsai
- Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida)
- Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana)
- Pinus thunbergii (Japanese black pine)
- Pinus parviflora (Japanese white pine)
- Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta)
- Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
- How To Care For Pine Bonsai?
- FAQs
Can Any Pine Tree Be A Bonsai?
One of the most common species used for bonsai is the pine tree. The Pinaceae family contains more than one hundred different types of pine bonsai, which means there is a bonsai suitable for every level of bonsai enthusiast. This is a tough and versatile tree that responds well to being pruned and trained in various ways.
How Do You Start A Bonsai Pine Tree?
Choose a potting container with adequate drainage for your pine tree. Choose a pot that has a height that is proportional to the diameter of the tree’s trunk and a breadth that is approximately two-thirds as wide as the tree is tall.
Make sure that the soil mixture you use for the pine bonsai has good drainage. Use two parts of sandstones or grit, one part of pure sphagnum, and one part of clean pinkish bark in your bonsai mix. Maintaining the health of all bonsai pine tree types requires regular pruning.
Bonsai Pine Snapshot
Before we dig deeper into all types of pine bonsai, let’s take a look at its general characteristics:
| Scientific name | Pinus Bonsai |
| Common name | Bonsai Pine |
| Lifespan | 100+ years |
| Plant type | Evergreen coniferous |
| Size | 60-80 inches |
| Native land | N. America, China, Russia, Europe, and South-East Asia |
| Growing conditions | Water: Can’t tolerate drought
Sunlight: Full Exposure Soil type: Sandy, peaty soil Soil PH: 5.5 – 6.5 Temperature: warm temperatures (64-75 degrees Fahrenheit) Fertilizer: Regular fertilization |
How Many Varieties of Pine Bonsai Do You Know?
Learn everything about the bonsai pine tree types here:
A. Mexican Weeping Pine Bonsai
Mexican weeping pine is one of the most famous types of pine bonsai:
| About the plant | |
| Scientific name | Pinus patula
|
| Common name | Patula Pine Bonsai, Patula Pine Bonsai, Spreading-leaved pine |
| Native land | Mexico |
| Lifespan | 200 years |
| Size | 60-125 inches |
| Growing conditions | Temperature: -10° C above
Soil type: Well-draining soil Water: Regularly Sunlight: Direct sunlight Fertilizer: Not needed |
| Growth rate | Medium |
| Hardiness Zones | 7-10 |
B. Ponderosa Pine Bonsai
Pine bonsai species have Pinus ponderosa which is also known as blackjack pine.
| About the plant | |
| Scientific name | Pinus ponderosa
|
| Common name | ponderosa pine, bull pine, blackjack pine, western yellow-pine, filipinus pine |
| Native land | Western North America |
| Lifespan | 500+ years |
| Size | 60 – 125 feet |
| Growing conditions | Temperature: -10° C above
Soil: Well-drained Soil pH: Acidic & Alkaline Water: Drought resistant Sunlight: Full sun Fertilizer: Mild fertilizer |
| Growth rate | Medium |
| Hardiness Zones | 3-7, USDA |
C. Scots Pine Bonsai
The next bonsai pine tree types are the Scots pine bonsai:
| About the plant | |
| Scientific name | Pinus sylvestris
|
| Common name | Scots pine, scotch pine, baltic pine |
| Native land | Eurasia |
| Lifespan | 150-300 years |
| Size | 60 – 130 feet |
| Growing conditions | Temperature: -64° C above
Soil: Acidic, loamy, moist, sandy, dry Soil pH: Alkaline (7.5) Water: Drought resistant Sunlight: Full sun |
| Growth rate | Slow to medium |
| Hardiness Zones | 3-7, USDA |
D. Jerusalem Pine Bonsai
Jerusalem pine bonsai are the next types of pine bonsai
| About the plant | |
| Scientific name | Pinus halepensis
|
| Common name | Alepppo pine, jerusalem pine |
| Native land | Europe |
| Lifespan | 180+ years |
| Size | 25 m |
| Growing conditions | Temperature: -18° C above
Soil: Well-drained Soil pH: Acidic & Alkaline Water: Drought resistant Sunlight: Full sun |
| Growth rate | Slow- medium |
| Hardiness Zones | 8-10, USDA |
E. Mountain Pine Bonsai
The mountain pine bonsai is next on our list of bonsai pine tree types:
| About the plant | |
| Scientific name | Pinus mugo
|
| Common name | Bog pine, creeping pine, mountain pine, scrub mountain pine, dwarf mountain pine, mugo pine, swiss mountain pine |
| Native land | Central Europe, Southeast Europe |
| Lifespan | 50+ years |
| Size | 90cm – 150cm |
| Growing conditions | Temperature: -50°F above
Soil: Clay, loam, chalk, sand Soil pH: 6.5 – 7.5 Water: Biweekly watering Sunlight: Direct sunlight Fertilizer: Mild fertilizer |
| Growth rate | Slow |
| Hardiness Zones | 3-7, USDA |
F. Pitch Pine (Pinus Rigida)
Candlewood pine, commonly known as pitch pine is one of the popular pine bonsai types.
| About the plant | |
| Scientific name | Pinus rigida
|
| Common name | pitch pine, candlewood pine, torch pine |
| Native land | North America |
| Lifespan | 200 years |
| Size | 40 -100 feet |
| Growing conditions | Temperature: -25° F above
Soil: Acidic, sandy, dry, rocky Soil pH: 5.0-6.5 Water: Drought resistant Sunlight: Full sun Fertilizer: Mild fertilizer |
| Growth rate | Medium |
| Hardiness Zones | 4-7, USDA |
G. Virginia Pine (Pinus Virginiana)
Virginia Pine is yet another bonsai pine tree types:
| About the plant | |
| Scientific name | Pinus Virginia
|
| Common name | Virginia pine, scrub pine, Jersey pine, Possum pine |
| Native land | Eastern United States |
| Lifespan | 50 years |
| Size | 40 to 70 feet |
| Growing conditions | Temperature: 75° F
Soil: sandy, loamy, clay, well-drained Soil pH: 5.0 – 7.0 Water: Drought resistant Sunlight: Full sun |
| Growth rate | Slow |
| Hardiness Zones | 4-8, USDA |
H. Pinus Thunbergii (Japanese Black Pine)
Japanese black pine, yet another member of the pine bonsai species is famous in Japan and Korea.
| About the plant | |
| Scientific name | Pinus thunbergii
|
| Common name | Japanese Black Pine, Japanese Pine |
| Native land | Japan, South Korea |
| Lifespan | 150 years |
| Size | 20 – 60 feet |
| Growing conditions | Temperature: -25° F above
Soil: Clay, loamy, chalk, sand Soil pH: 5.0-6.5 Water: Drought resistant Sunlight: Full sun |
| Growth rate | Slow |
| Hardiness Zones | 5 – 8, USDA |
Related: Japanese Black Pine Bonsai Winter Care
I. Pinus Parviflora (Japanese White Pine)
The next one in the list of bonsai pine tree types, we have Japanese white pine.
| About the plant | |
| Scientific name | Pinus parviflora
|
| Common name | Japanese white pine |
| Native land | Japan |
| Lifespan | 200 years |
| Size | 30 – 50 feet |
| Growing conditions | Temperature: Between – 60 to -50° C
Soil: Clay, loam, sand Soil pH: 4.0 – 7.5 Water: Regular watering Sunlight: Full sun |
| Growth rate | Slow |
| Hardiness Zones | 6 – 9, USDA |
J. Lodgepole Pine (Pinus Contorta)
Commonly known as shore pine, this is another pine bonsai species
| About the plant | |
| Scientific name | Pinus contorta |
| Common name | lodgepole pine, shore pine, twisted pine, contorta pine |
| Native land | Western United States, Canada |
| Lifespan | 150 – 200 years |
| Size | 70 – 80 feet |
| Growing conditions | Temperature: Between 113 and 140° F
Soil: moist loamy soil Soil pH: 5.0 – 7.5 Water: Drought resistant Sunlight: Full sun |
| Growth rate | Medium |
| Hardiness Zones | 4-8, USDA |
K. Limber Pine (Pinus Flexilis)
The last in the list of pine bonsai types, we have Limber Pine.
| About the plant | |
| Scientific name | Pinus flexilis
|
| Common name | Limber pine, rocky mountain white pine |
| Native land | Western United States, Mexico, Canada |
| Lifespan | 2000+years |
| Size | 40 – 70 feet |
| Growing conditions | Temperature: 50° C
Soil: Chalk, clay, loam, sand Soil pH: 5.0-6.5 Water: Drought resistant Sunlight: Full sun |
| Growth rate | Medium |
| Hardiness Zones | 4-7, USDA |
