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.
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.
​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.
Tree Name: Willow Leaf Ficus (ficus nerifolia)
Tree height: 9"
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”)

​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.
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
​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


​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.