What is a Bonsai plant? Well bonsai, isn’t a plant. It is an art, a hobby, a method of keeping and growing miniature plants that may then appear as though it is a tree. This “hobby” has been around for many years and can be a fascinating past-time.
My approach to the journey is to work with various plant species that will thrive in my part of the world. This gives me a focus that I will only acquire plants that can live where they are kept. I live in the Philippines, on a small island called Cebu. Our house is located near the sea, so maybe only 10-20 meters above sea level. These facts are actually very important when selecting materials.
If you pick the wrong plants it will make your bonsai experience much more challenging. I do not grow any cold weather plants; plants that require seasons in order to go through their natural cycles So for me, a plant that cannot experience a very cold period will not do well here. While I can create many things to assist the environmental conditions of my bonsai, I have not wanted to try and change the weather.
Don’t worry though, plants grow in many places, climates, and localities. Unless you live in the Arctic there should be a species of plant you CAN work with. For me that is the most important decision you can make before getting your trees. Start there.
| Scientific name | Other names |
|---|---|
| Antidesma bunius | Bignay, Bugnay, Bignai, Chinese-laurel, Queensland-cherry, Wild Cherry |
| Antidesma pentadrum | Bignay-pugo |
| Bougainvillea spectabilis | Bombil |
| Broussonetia luzonica | Samapguitang hombabao, Alukon, Philippine Birch |
| Buxus harlandi | Chinese boxwood |
| Buxus microphylla | Japanese Boxwood |
| Buxus sempervirens | Common Boxwood |
| Calicarpa americana | NON-NATIVE, American Beautyberry |
| Carmona retusa | Tsaang Gubat, Fukien Tea |
| Cassia javonica | Balayong, Salingogon, Apostola, Palawan Cherry, Pink Shower |
| Casuarina equisetifolia | Agoho, Australian Pine |
| Colubrina asiatica | Kabatiti, Latherleaf |
| Delonix regia | Fire Tree, Flame Tree, Bulaklak ng Paraiso |
| Diospyros blancoi | Kamagongm Mabolo.Talang (fruit) |
| Diospyros ferrea | Bantulinao, Bantolinao, Black Ebony |
| Ficus concinna | Red balete, Strangler Fig |
| Ficus microcarpa | Baleteng liitan, Curtain Fig, Chinese Banyan, Green Island |
| Ficus nota | Tibig/Sacking tree |
| Gmelina elliptica | Mulawin aso Mulawin puso, Talungud |
| Gmelina philipensis | Bulongan, Talongon, Hedgehog, Parrot’s Beak |
| Holmskioldia sanguinea | Chinese Hat, Cup-and-Saucer, Parasol Flower |
| Hibiscus tilaceous | Malabago, Balibago, Lambago, Sea Hibiscus |
| Jasminum bifarium | Sampaguitang dagat, Langhino |
| Lagerstroernia indica | Melendres, Crepe Myrtle |
| Morus alba | Moras, Amoras, Amingit, Morere, Mulberry |
| Murayya paniculata | Kamuning bilog, “Exotica”, Orange Jasmine |
| Pemphis acidula | Bantigue, Chonam |
| Phaleria capitata | Suwa Suwa??? Pomelo, Calamansi |
| Phyllanthus sp. | Mabuhay |
| Plinia cauliflora | Jaboticaba |
| Podocarpus costalis | Texas |
| Podocarpus gracilor | thin foliage |
| Podocarpus henkeli | long drooping leaves |
| Podocarpus macrophyllus | Buddhist Pine, Yew Pine, Aureus, Miu-Roman Candle, Golden Crown, Golden Tip, Diamond Pearl, Red |
| Podocarpus maki | smal leaves |
| Podocarpus nivalis | dwarf |
| Podocarpus totara | Aurea Golden |
| Premna microphylla | Argao Taiwan |
| Pterocarpus indicus | Narra |
| Rhizophora Spp. | Bakawan pansit pansiton |
| Serissa foetida | See Serissa japonica which is the current name…… |
| Serissa japonica | Snowrose, Thousand Stars |
| Streblus asper | Kalios, Bogta-e, Bogtalay |
| Tamarindus indica | Sampalok, Cebuano – Sambag, Tamarind |
| Terminala fontalia | Yangya |
| Trifidacanthus unifoliolatus | Vietnam Blue Bell |
| Triphasia trifolia | Tagalog/Bicol – Limonsitong kastila, Lemonsito |
| Tristaniopsis deocrticata | Malabayabas, Bantigi |
| Ulmus parviflora | Chinese Elm |
| Vachellia aroma | Aroma, Aromang dagat |
| Vitex negundo | Lagundi/Chaste tree |
| Vitex parviflora | Molave, Visaya – Tugas or Tugas bato, Ilokano – Sagat |
| Vitex sp. | Mulawin surot |
- Vitex parviflora page
I have completed my first run through the Tugas page. It was my exemplar page and I think it has come a long way to presenting the information I think is of value for a gardener and also a bonsai grower or hunter. while I cannot say thiswill be the final format, I can say… Read more: Vitex parviflora page - Bonsai materials list
I have gotten a good start on the table for bonsai that you might grow in the Philippines. These are plants I have now or have heard about getting. Some are not native to the Philippines and others are still only available through import. I imported my first two shipments this last month and received… Read more: Bonsai materials list - What are these bumps on my Fukien Tea?
I have been reading it can come from a fungal infection, bugs, or watering issues. I am not sure which one it is so I thought to post here in case anyone else knows what this is caused by. It seems most of the new growth does not have the bumps. The older growth has… Read more: What are these bumps on my Fukien Tea? - Bonsai test post
Yep, more testing
