BONSAI STYLES
Formal Upright Style
The tree grows straight and upright. In nature this happens when the tree is in an ideal, open situation with plenty of water, nourishment and no adverse weather conditions. The trunk of the tree should have an even taper from base to tip, and the shape of the branches should form a well balanced silhouette. The spread of the branches is not symmetrical. A good example is the Japanese Larch (see below)
Informal Upright Style (also known as Curved)
This style is the most commonly seen, both in nature and bonsai. This is due to environmental factors such as wind, shade, and competition for light or moisture from other plants and buildings. The trunk of the tree curves, bends and changes direction. The growth of the trunk is basically upright and vertical with a well balanced silhouette. A good example is the Fukien Tea Bonsai (see below) Semicascade Style In nature you see waterside trees like this. To qualify for this style the trunk should appear to be almost horizontal, even if the plant grows a little below the level of the pot rim. A good example is the Japanese Flowering Cherry (see below)
Cascade Style
This style represents a tree growing on a mountainside. The trunk line falls below the horizontal, with the trunk ending below the level of the pot. A good example is the Juniper - Cascade Style (see below)
Broom Style
Named after an upturned Japanese broom, the straight section of the trunk supports a domed head of twiggy branches. The branches and leaves form a ball-based crown which can be very beautiful during the winter months. An example is the Chinese Flowering White Serissa (see below)
Literati Style
Characterized by a generally bare trunk line, with branches reduced to a minimum, placed higher up on a long, often contorted, trunk. The style derives its name from the Chinese literati, who were artists that painted pine trees that grew in harsh climates, struggling to reach sunlight. A good example is the Japanese Black Pine (see below)
Slanting Style
These bonsai possess straight trunks like those of bonsai grown in the formal upright style. The slant style trunk emerges from the soil at an angle as the tree reaches out for light or away from buffering winds. An example is the Japanese Holly Bonsai (see below)
Root Over Rock Style
This happens in nature when trees grow in crevices and rocky ledges and need to send out roots to find moisture and nourishment in deeper soil. An example of this is the Hawian Umbrella Root over Rock (see below)
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