15 Must-Read Bonsai Books for Enthusiasts and Beginners

Bonsai is the amazing Japanese and East Asian art of growing miniature trees in containers. It is created with a specimen of source material, which could be a cutting, seedling, or much more.

Bonsai could be created from nearly any woody-stemmed tree that produces true branches.

It could be cultivated with crown and root pruning, given that they will remain small through pot confinement. Bonsai has various species; some of its species are popular because they have characteristics like small leaves, needles, etc., that make them truly appropriate for the scope of bonsai.

For bonsai cultivation, techniques like root reduction, potting, defoliation, grafting, and pruning are used to produce small trees that mimic the shape and style of mature ones.

To plant and cultivate bonsai, having appropriate information and knowledge is mandatory; hence, purchasing bonsai books could be a good option. Thousands of bonsai books are available, and it is very difficult to decide which one to purchase.

Here, I have provided bonsai books in 3 categories, i.e., 

1. Beginner
2. Intermediate 
3. Advanced

You could pick anyone you believe could be a good choice from your side.

Handpicked List of 15 Best Bonsai Books of All Time

Before starting with the list, my favorite quotes on bonsai.

“The object is not to make the tree look like a bonsai, but to make the bonsai look like a tree.”

John Naka

1. BONSAI: ITS ART, SCIENCE, HISTORY, AND PHILOSOPHY

 Year of Publication: 1997

Written by Deborah R. Koreshoff, this book on the science, art, history, and philosophy of bonsai is mind-blowing. It contains all the information about the Japanese art of growing bonsai. If you love bonsai, then you must grab this book. It focuses on explaining bonsai trees’ history, philosophy, and in-depth information.

Key focus:- 

• Bonsai art
• Horticultural and artistic aspects
• Philosophy and History of bonsai trees
• The Japanese art of growing bonsai

2. THE BONSAI HANDBOOK

New Holland (Year of publication: 2003)

Written by David Prescott and Colin Lewis, The Bonsai Handbook is an amazing novel where the authors have combined sketches and photos in a very good manner to clearly explain how bonsai trees can be trained and shaped. Apart from bonsai aesthetics and its history, this is one of the best bonsai books and also includes bonsai care.

Key focus:- 

• Maintenance and care guide for bonsai
• Methods of growing bonsai indoors and outside
• Anatomy of Bonsai Trees
• Different styles of bonsai

3. BONSAI, A BEGINNER’S GUIDE

Bonsai Empire (Year of publication: 2014)

Caring for a bonsai tree is not as difficult as most people believe. It’s simple; you just need to learn basic techniques to keep the tree thriving. This is one of the best bonsai books that contain all the essential information you need to succeed, i.e., it covers the basic techniques and explains everything to you in an understandable way.

4. THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BONSAI

Abbeville Press (year of publication: 1991)

The Complete Book of Bonsai, written by Harry Tomlinson, covers tree species used for bonsai. In great detail, this book includes around 300 tree species used for bonsai. This book is useful for bonsai lovers and those who love to grow various tree species.

Key focus:- 

• Classic styles of bonsai
• Description of Bonsai species
• Artistic principles of bonsai art
• A step-by-step guide to bonsai cultivation

5. BONSAI: THE ART OF GROWING AND KEEPING MINIATURE TREES

 Year of publication: 2014

Peter Chan’s The Art of Growing and Keeping Miniature Trees discusses many important topics, including how to properly perform bonsai techniques such as watering, pruning, wiring, and repotting. This amazing book will also explain the essential tools and supplies needed to cultivate bonsai.

Key focus:- 

• Guide to Picking the right bonsai tree species
• Maintenance of Bonsai
• Styling bonsai trees
• Mandatory tools and supplies for bonsai

6. BEGINNER INDOOR BONSAI SELECTION, CARE, AND TRAINING

Cassell Illustrated (Year of publication: 2005)

Written by Werner M. Busch, this captivating book covers all the basics, from the techniques to acquire a tree to its daily care and maintenance. In this book, the writer has showcased very useful species and provided background information on the most commonly used tree species for indoor bonsai. It is a superb book for those interested in indoor bonsai trees, as the texts are illustrated with amazing photos.

7. THE BONSAI BEGINNER’S BIBLE

Year of publication: 2018

Written by Peter Chan, The Bonsai Beginner’s Guide, as the name itself suggests, is meant for beginners. This amazing book is filled with comprehensive guides on how to wire, fertilise, prune, water, report, and treat bonsai trees. A directory of over 180 popular bonsai tree species with proper images and descriptions is also provided in the book.

Key focus:- 

• Bonsai cultivation techniques
• Popular bonsai tree species with their proper descriptions and images
• Guide on how to style the bonsai trees

8. BONSAI SURVIVAL MANUAL: TREE-BY-TREE GUIDE TO BUYING, MAINTAINING, AND PROBLEM-SOLVING

Storey (Year of Publication: 1996)

Written by Colin Lewis, Bonsai Survival Manual is a very attractive book for those who love bonsai trees, as this book explains how to assess, evaluate, and select plants suitable to train into bonsai. Apart from the information mentioned above, this book also includes comprehensive information on bonsai care, styling techniques, and methods of selecting species.

Key focus:- 

• Some popular species of bonsai trees
• Guide to Styling Bonsai Trees
• Cultivation problems related to bonsai
• Maintenance of the Bonsai Guide
• A guide on how to choose the correct bonsai specimen

9. BONSAI: THE COMPLETE STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE ON HOW TO CULTIVATE AND CARE FOR BEGINNERS

 Year of Publication: 2021

Written by Kitaro Takagi, this captivating book is a guide that will make you all aware of the dos and don’ts for bonsai species. It is a simple, comprehensive, step-by-step maintenance guide that teaches how beginners can perform bonsai techniques, select suitable specimens, and choose the necessary tools to cultivate bonsai adequately.

Key focus:- 

• Basic Bonsai styles
• Selecting a bonsai tree guide
• Cultivation tools are needed for bonsai.
• Suitable species of bonsai
• Maintenance and care guide for bonsai

10. BONSAI BASICS: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO GROWING, TRAINING, AND GENERAL CARE

Sterling Pub. (Year of publication: 1993)

Written by Christian Pessey and Remy Samson, it is the best book on bonsai for beginners, as it discusses bonsai care and training in a very simple and understandable way. The calendar you will get with this amazing book is very convenient, as a seasonal checklist is added. Apart from this, the other topics that make this book attractive include bonsai styles, fertilising, pruning, wiring, selecting suitable tree species, and repotting.

Key focus:- 

• Selecting hardy specimens: a proper guide
• Bonsai forms and different styles
• Guide to Bonsai Techniques

11. INDOOR BONSAI 

 Blandford Press (year of publication: 1986)

Written by Paul Lesniewicz, Indoor Bonsai is the ideal intermediate-level book for bonsai lovers. For those who have an interest in indoor bonsai trees, this book is best for you, as it discusses everything from the cultivation of bonsai to its proper care and also lists suitable species (both tropical and subtropical) in detail, along with great photos.

12. BONSAI, 101 ESSENTIAL TIPS

DK Pub. (Year of publication: 2003)

This is one of the best-known books around. Written by Harry Tomlinson and Carol Watson, this book showcases a short but very clear explanation of basic bonsai techniques. Well illustrated, it also provides you with tonnes of practical insights.

Key focus:- 

• Bonsai Art
• Easy tips for bonsai cultivation
• Design and style principles of bonsai
• Bonsai care 
• Maintenance guide for bonsai
• Suitable species of bonsai

13. THE BEAUTY OF BONSAI

Year of publication: 1988

The Beauty of Bonsai is a great book written by Saburo Kato, showcasing quality images of various bonsai trees. With amazing colored photos of evergreen and deciduous forests, readers could be fully attracted to reading them. Also, readers could easily understand and appreciate the beauty of bonsai.

Key focus:- 

• Classic bonsai trees
• Pictures of bonsai trees
• Information about forests, from evergreen to deciduous

14. THE BONSAI BOOK: THE DEFINITIVE ILLUSTRATED GUIDE

Year of publication: 2019

Dan Barton’s definitive illustrated guide to bonsai trees is highly recommended for first-time bonsai growers. It has provided you with the monthly growth schedules and cultivation techniques that could help beginners monitor their plants and grow them in a good manner. Apart from this, it also provides you with fascinating insights and different propagation processes.

Key focus:- 

• Routine calendar for bonsai
• Tree styles of bonsai
• Tools and equipment descriptions needed for bonsai cultivation
• Guide to Growing Miniature Trees
• Different methods of growing bonsai

15. BONSAI MASTER CLASS

Sterling (Year of Publication: 2006)

Written by Craig Coussins, Bonsai Master Class is an advanced book about bonsai and discusses very specific topics. This amazing book inspires the reader to start experimenting with bonsai as it discusses groundbreaking techniques and state-of-the-art tools.

Key focus:- 

• Horticultural requirements of bonsai in accordance with different climates
• Different techniques of bonsai cultivation
• Tips on buying, caring for, and displaying bonsai
• Information about contemporary bonsai artists across the globe

That’s Wrap

This was the list of the 15 best books on bonsai, you can read these books in order to master these skills. Also, you can share the blog with your bonsai enthusiastic friends.

Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning that at no additional cost to you, I may receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase.