Styles

There are numerous styles to choose from when shaping a bonsai. It should be noted, though, that not all tree types are equally able to conform to a specific style selected. It is therefore advisable for beginners to avoid the much more difficult task of shaping a bonsai in a manner that goes against how the tree would grow in nature.

The five styles listed below are considered to be the most basic:

1. The formal upright is perhaps the most challenging style. It has a perfectly straight trunk that is well-tapered and has symmetrical branches. This style represents the kind of tree that grows in nature under perfect conditions and with lots of space. Conifers such as junipers, spruces or pines would be well suited. Fruiting trees would not.
2. The informal upright is arguably the easiest style for novices to master. It is similar to the formal upright, but has a trunk that bends or curves. And remember that, whereas it is acceptable for a bonsai to be leaning to the left or the right, it is never correct to have either the trunk or the branches leaning towards the viewer. Most species of plants are adaptable to this style.
3. The slanting style is akin to the informal upright in that it leans. However, a slanting bonsai usually has a straighter trunk with a more pronounced incline, like a tree in nature that has been buffeted by winds. Conifers work well for this style, but most other species are also suitable.
4. The cascade style comes down the front of the pot and slightly to the side. The tree flows downward past the pot’s base, as if being pulled by gravity. Most species of plants are suitable for a cascade, unless they are firmly upright.
5. The semi-cascade style is similar to the cascade style, except that it does not drop past the pot’s base. The style represents trees that grow on cliffs or over water. Most species of plants are suitable for a cascade, unless they are firmly upright. Flowering cherries and junipers work especially well.