Bonsai enthusiasts and beginners often ask, "Where can I see bonsai in person or purchase my own tree?" Experiencing bonsai firsthand is one way to appreciate the artistry and care that goes into these spectacular trees. Whether you’re exploring world-class bonsai museums, shopping for your next tree at a nursery, or joining a local club to deepen your knowledge, there are countless opportunities to connect with the bonsai community. In this guide, I'll highlight some of the best places to see, buy, and learn about bonsai.
Where to See Bonsai
- National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, Washington DC
- George Weyerhaeuser Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection,
- Woodbridge Corporate Park, WA
- Bonsai Garden in the Gardens at Lake Merritt, Lakeside Park, Oakland, CA
- The Golden State Bonsai Federation (GSBF) Collection at The Huntington,
- San Marino, CA
- Shinzen Friendship Garden, Woodward Park, Fresno, CA
- The C.V. Starr Bonsai Museum at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Brooklyn, NY
- Bonsai Courtyard – Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA
- Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, Richmond, London, England
- Chi Lin Nunnery, bonsai garden, Diamond Hill, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Temple of the Green Pine Taoism temple, (Ching Chung Koon)
- Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Shunkaen Bonsai Museum, Tokyo, Japan
- The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Saitama, Japan
- Amy Liang Bonsai Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
- Spirited Garden on Jeju Island, South Korea
- There are bonsai museums in every major city in China, the most notable one being the Shanghai Botanical Garden.
Where to Buy Bonsai
- Landscaping nurseries
- Bonsai nurseries
- Bonsai club sales/auctions
- Specifically:
- Flower market in Kowloon
- Railroad station market in Taipei
- The mammoth auction in Oakland
- Yamaguchi Nursery in Los Angeles
- San Gabriel Nursery in Los Angeles
- Maruyama Nursery in Sacramento
- Bonsai Mirai
- Brussel’s Bonsai Nursery
- Bonsai Heirloom
- Eastern Leaf
- Bonsai Outlet
- (Note: Bonsai cannot be readily imported or transported across state lines.)
Bonsai Clubs
Join a bonsai club to learn, to network and to share best practices.
Please email me at hello@bonsaiheirloom.com to add an established bonsai club you know to add to this list. We hope to have a comprehensive listing of all the bonsai clubs, both here in the U.S. and around the world.
California
For a comprehensive listing of bonsai clubs in California, please visit https://www.gsbfbonsai.org/clubs