This website is supported by its readers. If you click one of my links I may earn a commission. I am also a participant in the Amazon affiliates program and I will also earn a commission from qualified purchases.
What are the best outdoor bonsai trees? While indoor bonsai trees can be easy to choose from, outdoor bonsai trees can be slightly more tricky.
As such, finding a tree that you can leave outdoors year-round without worrying about adverse weather conditions killing your tree can be challenging.
Luckily, I’ve had a few outdoor bonsai (good and bad ), so which are my favorites? Luckily, there are hundreds of sub-species of outdoor trees that you can opt for.
My recommendation for an outdoor bonsai has to be the Bonsai Boys Juniper bonsai tree, which you can grab here (the link takes you to the bonsai boys website).
Why I recommend this tree
Now rather than just recommending you a tree and not giving you any reason, I wanted to go into more detail on why I suggested this tree:
Age
First up, this tree is 12 years old.
Juniper bonsai trees aren’t the fastest-growing, so getting a tree that is only 12 years old with an excellent design can sometimes be a rarity.
Not the case with this Juniper, which comes in a beautiful Shimpaku design.
Size
This Juniper tree is also around 10 inches tall, making it the perfect size for most outdoor spaces.
Even then, if you have a small backyard, this tree doesn’t take up too much room, making it ideal for most spaces.
The retailer
Another reason I recommend this Juniper bonsai is because it comes directly from the Bonsai Boys website.
Unlike many other online Bonsai nurseries, bonsai boy has been a trusted retailer of Bonsai trees for decades, and the family business approach means that the utmost care is given to each of their Bonsai trees.
The design
Getting a juniper bonsai tree to look good can be challenging, so finishing a Juniper tree that not only stands out because of its design but can grow in an irregularly shaped pot is incredible.
This tree looks like a miniature tree, so I recommend it!
Best premium outdoor bonsai
If you want to take your outdoor bonsai tree to the next level, I highly recommend the Bonsai Boys pine bonsai tree, which you can grab here (the link takes you to the Bonsai Boys website).
Why I recommend this tree
So like I mentioned above, I only want to recommend a bonsai tree and invest a significant amount of money after explaining why
Age
First up, this tree is 58 years old.
Yep, you heard that right!
This means you will buy some bonsai history with this tree.
On top of this, Age means that the resale price of this bonsai tree will be very high should you decide to sell up in the future.
Size
When bonsai trees get older than 30, it can be super challenging to try and manage their size, especially in outdoor bonsai.
Not the case with this pine tree which only stands at around 23 inches tall, meaning it can easily fit into almost any tiny backyard space without you having to worry about it taking up too much room.
The retailer
Again, I recommend this Pine Bonsai because it comes directly from the Bonsai Boys website.
Bonsai Boy has been a trusted retailer of Bonsai trees for decades, and the family business approach means that the utmost care is given to each of their Bonsai trees.
The design
Finally, this pine bonsai is a Japanese red pine tree.
This tree has several distinctive qualities, including upright branches that do not droop and flaky orange bark that appears annually. This means that this pine bonsai will stand out in any collection.
Best tall outdoor bonsai
So some of you want a larger outdoor bonsai instead of a traditional one- or two-handed bonsai.
As such, I recommend Bonsai Boy’s 6 feet tall bonsai, which you can grab here (the link takes you to the bonsai boys website).
Not only is this tree massive, coming in at six feet tall, but it has also been preserved, meaning that you will never have to worry about pruning or this tree growing any taller. On top of this, its; beautiful design will stand out in any backyard or garden space.
Best cheap outdoor bonsai trees
Finally, if you are looking for a range of cheaper outdoor bonsai trees, then I would have a look at bonsai boys outdoor tree recommendations here (the link takes you to Bonsai Boys website)
Why I recommend these trees
Range
First, while I like Juniper and Pine as my outdoor bonsai trees of choice, Bonsai Boy has a wide range of standard and bespoke outdoor trees.
This means that you can find the right tree for your collection.
Price
Secondly, while pine and maple bonsai are on the high end of what you should pay for outdoor trees, some trees in Bonsai Boys’ outdoor collection are significantly cheaper.
This means you won’t have to break the bank.
The retailer
Finally, as mentioned earlier, the trees here come directly from Bonsai Boy, a trusted retailer, and family-run business, meaning that individual care is given to each tree.
This ensures your tree will be as healthy as possible when you purchase it.
Unlike many other online Bonsai nurseries, bonsai boy has been a trusted retailer of Bonsai trees for decades, and the family business approach means that the utmost care is given to each of their Bonsai trees.
What to look out for when buying an outdoor bonsai
So regardless of purchasing my recommendation for an outdoor bonsai or not, I’ve made many mistakes throughout my bonsai lobbying career.
As such, it’s essential that any outdoor bonsai you do decide to opt for:
- Easy to care for – You want to ensure that regardless of any bonsai tree you buy, it needs to be easy to care for. Investing money in a bonsai tree is possible if it’s simple enough for you to work, making it much easier to forget about your tree.
- From a professional retailer – It can be very tempting to buy a bonsai tree from a cheap store; however, using reputable retailers will ensure peace of mind, not worrying about the tree dying right after you purchase it.
- Not the cheapest option – Similar to the above, you might be tempted to purchase the cheapest bonsai. While this will be your choice, depending on your available budget, consider investing slightly more as, in my experience, premium bonsai will typically be much longer lasting and better quality than cheaper bonsai.
- Money-back guarantee – Ensure that whatever bonsai you purchase has a money-back guarantee to give you peace of mind.
