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Bonsai photography by Andrea Melloni

Seventy-four portraits, a collection still growing.

A closer look at shohin, species and design. The photographs show how foliage, trunk movement, roots and deadwood give each bonsai its own structure.

Juniper bonsai

Itoigawa, Kishu and sabina: foliage pads, movement, jin and shari.

Shohin Itoigawa juniper with a tall jin rising above compact foliage pads.
Shohin Itoigawa with a tall jinPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Juniperus chinensis Kishu bonsai with wired branches and visible deadwood.
Juniperus Kishu with wired branchesPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Itoigawa juniper bonsai with sculptural deadwood and compact green foliage against a light background.
Itoigawa juniper on a light backgroundPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Juniperus chinensis Kishu shohin bonsai with a curved trunk and carved deadwood.
Juniperus Kishu shohinPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Juniperus chinensis Kishu bonsai with layered foliage and a curved trunk in a shallow brown pot.
Juniperus Kishu profilePhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Itoigawa juniper bonsai in development, with training wire, live foliage and deadwood.
Itoigawa juniper in developmentPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Itoigawa juniper bonsai with compact foliage pads framing a curved deadwood trunk.
Itoigawa juniper with deadwoodPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Juniperus sabina bonsai with sweeping live foliage and pale sculptural deadwood.
Juniperus sabina with deadwoodPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Itoigawa juniper ishizuki bonsai growing over a dramatic rock, with compact green foliage against a black background.
Itoigawa juniper ishizukiPhotograph by Andrea Melloni

Broadleaf and Mediterranean bonsai

English oak, trident maple, Zelkova, Sageretia, Ficus, cork oak, Cornus mas, field elm, wild olive, goji berry, azalea, Japanese privet and Parthenocissus.

Ficus retusa bonsai with exposed roots and a spreading crown, photographed against a black background.
Ficus retusa with exposed rootsPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Ficus retusa bonsai viewed from the side, showing its intertwined roots and broad canopy.
Ficus retusa, root and canopy detailPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Goji berry bonsai with a twisting trunk and open branches in a patterned ceramic pot.
Goji berry bonsaiPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Satsuki azalea bonsai with dense foliage pads in a blue oval pot.
Satsuki azaleaPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Japanese privet bonsai with glossy leaves and a sinuous pale trunk in a blue-green pot.
Japanese privetPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Shohin wild olive bonsai with a textured trunk and compact crown in a blue-glazed pot.
Wild olive shohinPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Ulmus parvifolia Chinese elm bonsai with exposed roots and a rounded canopy against a black background.
Chinese elm on blackPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Shohin wild olive bonsai with a compact crown and strong root base in a ceramic pot.
Wild olive shohin with strong rootsPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Parthenocissus tricuspidata bonsai with autumn-coloured leaves and intertwined roots above the pot.
Parthenocissus tricuspidata in autumnPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Wild olive bonsai with an aged pale trunk and fine branches in a blue pot.
Wild olive trunk detailPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Quercus robur bonsai, 80 cm tall, with yellow and russet autumn leaves and a broad, textured trunk in a rectangular pot.
Quercus robur, 80 cm, in autumnPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Earlier development stage of a Quercus robur bonsai, with an arched trunk and wired branches in a black training pot.
Quercus robur in an earlier development stagePhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Deciduous bonsai with a deeply textured trunk and wired branches, photographed against a black background.
Deciduous bonsai with wired branchesPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Mature broadleaf bonsai with narrow silver-green leaves and a rugged trunk in a shallow pot, photographed outdoors.
Broadleaf bonsai with silvery foliagePhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Acer buergerianum trident maple shohin bonsai held in one hand, with a compact crown and textured trunk.
Acer buergerianum shohinPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Cornus mas bonsai with a dense green canopy and textured trunk, planted in a green rectangular pot.
Cornus mas in a green potPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Ulmus campestris field elm bonsai growing in a plastic training pot outdoors, with a thick trunk and developing branches.
Ulmus campestris field elmPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Shohin Cornus mas bonsai flowering in February, with clusters of yellow blossoms above a compact trunk and root base.
Flowering Cornus mas shohin in FebruaryPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Duranta bonsai with a curved pale trunk and compact green crown, planted in a red glazed pot.
Duranta in a red potPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Fagus crenata bonsai in autumn, with copper and gold foliage forming a dense rounded crown above a shallow pot.
Fagus crenata in autumnPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Olive bonsai with a broad, rugged trunk, silvery foliage and a shallow brown pot, photographed outdoors.
Olive bonsai with a broad trunkPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Malus halliana bonsai with a curved trunk and green foliage in an unglazed ceramic pot.
Malus halliana in an unglazed potPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Elaeagnus bonsai with pale silvery leaves and a twisting trunk in a green glazed pot.
Elaeagnus in a green potPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Cotoneaster bonsai with small leaves, a branched crown and visible roots in a brown rectangular pot.
Cotoneaster in a brown potPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Acer palmatum Japanese maple bonsai with fine palmate foliage and a tapered trunk in a shallow pot.
Acer palmatum bonsaiPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Malus halliana bonsai with small red fruits among green leaves, displayed in a shallow pot.
Malus halliana with fruitPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Close view of pale pink and white Malus halliana blossoms opening among fresh green leaves.
Malus halliana blossom detailPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Cotoneaster bonsai in a cascading style, with a low curved trunk, small green leaves and a shallow rectangular pot.
Cotoneaster cascade bonsaiPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Compact bonsai with small green leaves and exposed roots above a rectangular training pot.
Bonsai with exposed rootsPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Parthenocissus bonsai with a compact crown and exposed, twisting roots in a green glazed pot.
Parthenocissus in a green potPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Punica granatum pomegranate bonsai with a curved trunk and reddish buds in a shallow brown pot.
Punica granatum bonsaiPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Cotoneaster bonsai held in one hand in a blue glazed pot, with a curved trunk and spreading branches.
Cotoneaster in a blue potPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Leafless deciduous bonsai with a pale curved trunk and fine branching in a shallow rectangular pot.
Leafless bonsai with a curved trunkPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Buxus harlandii bonsai with dense small evergreen leaves, a broad textured trunk and a shallow rectangular pot.
Buxus harlandii bonsaiPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Morus alba bonsai in winter, leafless and showing its branching structure and broad, aged trunk.
Morus alba in winterPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Punica granatum pomegranate shohin in nejikan style, with a twisting trunk, compact green crown and green ceramic pot.
Punica granatum nejikan shohinPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Ligustrum lucidum bonsai with a curved trunk and dense glossy foliage in a red ceramic pot.
Ligustrum lucidum in a red potPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Ginkgo biloba shohin bonsai with fan-shaped leaves and a compact trunk, planted in a sculptural moonstone pot.
Ginkgo shohin in a moonstone potPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Carmona bonsai with small glossy leaves and tiny white flowers, planted in a white ceramic pot.
Carmona in a white potPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Malus halliana bonsai in full bloom, covered with white flowers above a thick textured trunk.
Malus halliana in full bloomJapanese crabapple in full bloom. Photograph by Andrea Melloni
Malus halliana bonsai with a broad leafy canopy and fading white blossoms in a brown pot.
Malus halliana leafy canopyA broad canopy as flowering fades. Photograph by Andrea Melloni
Malus halliana bonsai in a green glazed pot, showing white blossoms and small developing fruit.
Malus halliana blossoms and fruitWhite blossom and young fruit on the same tree. Photograph by Andrea Melloni
Close view of Malus halliana flowers and developing green fruit among fresh leaves.
Malus halliana flower and fruit detailFlowers and developing fruit among fresh leaves. Photograph by Andrea Melloni
Pistacia lentiscus bonsai with a low spreading trunk and small leaves in a turquoise glazed pot.
Pistacia lentiscus in a turquoise potA spreading Mediterranean lentisk in a turquoise pot. Photograph by Andrea Melloni
Pistacia lentiscus bonsai with a long, low trunk and exposed roots in a shallow grey pot.
Pistacia lentiscus in a grey potLow trunk movement and exposed roots. Photograph by Andrea Melloni
Side view of a Pistacia lentiscus bonsai with a horizontal trunk and compact foliage in a green pot.
Pistacia lentiscus profileSide profile showing the tree’s horizontal movement. Photograph by Andrea Melloni
Pistacia lentiscus bonsai with a sinuous trunk, exposed roots and small oval leaves in a green pot.
Pistacia lentiscus trunk and canopyA closer view of the lentisk’s trunk and canopy. Photograph by Andrea Melloni
Sageretia bonsai with a compact green canopy and exposed roots in a blue rectangular pot.
Sageretia in a blue potA Sageretia with exposed roots in a blue pot. Photograph by Andrea Melloni
Zelkova serrata bonsai with a rounded canopy and spreading surface roots in a shallow brown pot.
Zelkova serrataA rounded Zelkova serrata canopy and root base. Photograph by Andrea Melloni
Close view of the textured trunk and exposed roots of a Zelkova serrata bonsai beneath its canopy.
Zelkova serrata trunk detailTrunk bark and surface roots on Zelkova serrata. Photograph by Andrea Melloni
Zelkova nire bonsai with a compact canopy and thick textured trunk in a brown pot.
Zelkova nire in a brown potZelkova nire styled in a brown pot. Photograph by Andrea Melloni
Ficus neriifolia bonsai with narrow leaves and a curved trunk in a pale round pot.
Ficus neriifolia in a pale potNarrow foliage and a curved trunk on Ficus neriifolia. Photograph by Andrea Melloni
Quercus suber cork oak bonsai in a grey plastic training pot, with a measuring tape at the base.
Quercus suber in a training potCork oak in a plastic training container. Photograph by Andrea Melloni
Ficus bonsai with an exposed root-over-rock base and dense glossy foliage in a green oval pot.
Ficus bonsai with exposed rootsFicus bonsai with an exposed root composition; species not confirmed. Photograph by Andrea Melloni

Pines and other conifers

Japanese black pine, mountain pine, European yew, golden larch and Pseudolarix, each with its own foliage and seasonal character.

Pinus halepensis bonsai with long needles, wired branches and a rugged trunk.
Pinus halepensisPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Pinus uncinata bonsai with compact needle foliage and rugged deadwood in a shallow pot.
Pinus uncinataPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Pinus thunbergii bonsai with tiered needle foliage and a rugged, twisting trunk, displayed against a grey background.
Pinus thunbergii against a grey backgroundPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Taxus baccata bonsai with green foliage, a sinuous trunk and pale sculptural deadwood against a dark background.
Taxus baccata with sculptural deadwoodPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Picea glauca 'Conica' Alberta spruce bonsai with layered dark green foliage and a rugged trunk in a shallow pot.
Picea glauca 'Conica'Photograph by Andrea Melloni
Pseudolarix amabilis bonsai with soft golden-red autumn foliage and a pale, textured trunk.
Pseudolarix amabilis in autumnPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Larix kaempferi Japanese larch bonsai with a slender curved trunk and open branches in a blue pot.
Larix kaempferi in a blue potPhotograph by Andrea Melloni
Japanese larch bonsai with bare branches and a curved trunk, photographed before spring foliage opens.
Japanese larch in early springLarix kaempferi before the spring needles emerge. Photograph by Andrea Melloni
Japanese larch bonsai with fresh green needle clusters arranged along a curved trunk.
Japanese larch with fresh foliageFresh needle clusters on Larix kaempferi. Photograph by Andrea Melloni
Larix kaempferi bonsai with a compact green canopy and an aged curved trunk in a rectangular ceramic pot.
Japanese larch in full leafA compact canopy of seasonal foliage. Photograph by Andrea Melloni
Taxus baccata bonsai with a prominent pale shari running along the twisted trunk.
Taxus baccata with shariA dramatic shari on European yew. Photograph by Andrea Melloni
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