San Diego Bonsai Club
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Shohin Exhibit

Although commonly thought of as small or dwarf trees, bonsai are technically trees that are grown in a pot. They can be quite large. However, there is a subset of bonsai called Shohin. These are trees that are maintained to be no taller than 20 centimeters from the top of the pot to the top of the tree. This additional constraint produces some remarkable results when employed by a bonsai artist.

Picture
Tree Name: Boxwood (Buxus)
Tree height:   7”
Accent plant:   Armeria maritima (thrift or sea pink) 

​You are invited to go "behind-the-curtain" to see the original tree that was used to create this Shohin. The transformation is remarkable.
Shohin are often displayed in tiered stands. By Japanese tradition, the arrangement should evoke a mountain. Notice how the artist has used just two plants, a shohin tree and an accent to create the strong impression of the triangular shape of a mountain. The wind swept style of the tree on the top adds to this impression.

Picture
​Tree Name: Kishu Shimpaku Juniper (Juniperis chinensis var. sargentii)
Display Height: 4"

​Tree Name: Japanese Black Pine (pinus thunbergii)
Display Height: 7"

This shohin is displayed in an unusually large pot for such a small tree. But in this case the artist has used the oversized pot to provide a perfect balance to the long thin needles of the pine.
Picture

Picture
Tree Name: Willow Leaf Ficus (ficus nerifolia)
Tree height: 9"

Picture
Tree type (clockwise starting upper left):
  • Kishu Shimpaku (Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii),
  • Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii),
  • Japanese Garden Juniper (Juniperus chinensis var. procumbens ‘Nana’),
  • Accent plant (Saxifraga stonlonifera, Creeping sarifragel),
  • Needle Juniper (Juniperus rigida var. Tosho), 
  • Prostrata Juniper (Juniperus chinensis var. prostrata)
Tree size: Shohin (~8”)

Picture

​Tree name: Osakazuki Satsuki Azalea
Tree height: 6”

Azleas provide an extra challange for San Diego bonsai enthusiasts. The tap water is too alkaline for them to prosper. This beautiful shohin is clearly receiving that extra TLC.

​Tree Name: Willow leaf (Ficus salicaria)
Tree height: 7”
Accent plant:   Armeria maritima (thrift or sea pink) and Limonium minutum (sea lavender or dwarf statice)
Notes: Tree is from a Pauline Muth workshop at a Golden State Bonsai Convention.
Picture

Picture
Tree type (clockwise starting upper right):
Tree height (soil to apex): 7", 4", 6"
Juniper (Juniperus chinensis 'Shimpaku' var. Itoigawa)
Juniper (Juniperus chinensis 'Shimpaku' var. Itoigawa)
Olive (Olea europaea)
Pots: Jim Barrett

Picture
​Tree type (clockwise starting upper left):
Tree size: 9", 9", 4" 
Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii)
Ginkgo forest (Ginkgo biloba var Little Leaf)
Olive (Olea europaea)
​Pots: Jim Barrett
Picture


​Thank you for visiting our show. If you would like to learn more, take a peek behind the curtain to see some of the techniques used to craft these trees. To return to the exhibit gates, choose the exit.
Picture
Updated: March 7, 2023
All images © 2010-2023.
All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
  • Activities
    • Next Meeting
    • 2023 Calendar
    • 2023 Spring Show
    • Bonsai-A-Thon
    • Bonsai Show Maps
  • Education
    • About SDBC Education
    • Beginner's Classes Overview
    • Beginner's Class Schedule
    • Workshops & Skills Classes
    • Study Groups >
      • Shohin Study Group
      • All About Bonsai Study Group
      • Ficus Study Group
    • Private Lessons
  • Resources
    • Newsletter
    • Club Forms
    • Club Library
    • Vendors
    • Photos >
      • 2020 Winter Silhouettes
      • 2018 Fall Show
      • 2018 SD County Fair
      • Spring 2018 Show
      • 2018 Cal Shohin Seminar
      • GSBF Convention #40
      • 2017 Fall Show
      • 2017 Spring Show
      • 2016 Fall Show
      • 2016 Nisei Week Trip
      • 2016 Spring Show
      • 2016 Bonsai-A-Thon
      • 2016 Winter Silhouettes
      • 2015 Fall Show Photos
      • 2015 Nisei Week Trip
      • Bonsai Stolen from San Gabriel Nursery
      • 2015 Spring Show
      • 2015 Bonsai-A-Thon
      • 2014 Fall Show
      • 2014 Nisei Week Trip
      • 2014 July Bus Trip
      • 2014 Spring Show
      • 2014 Bonsai-A-Thon
      • 2014 Winter Silhouettes
      • 2013 Fall Show
      • 2013 Spring Show
    • Articles >
      • Lime Sulfur
      • Bougainvillea Bonsai
      • Soil: It's What Goes in the Pot
      • 'Lyn's Bonsai Soil Mix
      • Back-Budding
      • REBS 2014 Show
      • 2014 Boxwood Dig
      • Club History
      • Club Logo
      • First Show May 1966
    • Video >
      • 2019-2021 Videos
      • 2015-2018 Videos
      • Video
      • More Video
  • Membership
    • Membership Form
    • Membership Benefits
    • Volunteer
  • Safari Park Bonsai Pavilion
    • Overview and History
    • Bonsai Pavilion Trees
    • Stolen Bonsai
  • Looking Back
    • Time Traveler
    • Remembering... >
      • Remembering Big Dave Rochester
      • Remembering Marty Mann
      • Remembering Ko Tsushima
      • Remembering Harry Hirao
      • Remembering Bob Meyer
  • About
    • Overview of Club
    • By-Laws
    • Past Presidents
  • Contact