How much is a bonsai tree

Have you been looking to get in to the business of collecting and maintaining your very own bonsai trees? If so, you may be wondering how much a bonsai tree costs? Well, we have all of the answers for you!

Continue reading below to discover how much you may have to part with to own one of these incredible pieces of art. We also detail the factors that contribute to the pricing of bonsai trees, the common and rare species of bonsai Trees, as well as the eye-watering price of the most expensive bonsai tree in the world!

How Much Does a Bonsai Tree Cost?

There is no tried and tested pricing method when it comes to bonsai trees. With many variable factors, including the design or formation of the bonsai tree, the specie of the tree, the age of the tree itself and any historical value the tree specie may hold. Not to mention the location that the bonsai tree was grown in, as well as changeable factors such as the pot the bonsai tree is kept in. These are all key factors that can influence the Bonsai tree cost.

Generally speaking, if you are looking to purchase your very own bonsai tree. You may be looking at spend anything between $20 and hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. Some bonsai trees have even been valued above one million US Dollars.

What Are The Rarest Forms Of Bonsai Tree?

With so many variables effecting the overall price of a bonsai tree, which we will delve into further in the 'factors' section of the article. Perhaps an easier way to look out for more valuable or expensive forms of a bonsai trees is to take note of their particular specie. These five following forms of Bonsai tree are considered to be the five most rare species that are available for you to purchase:

  • Giant Sequoia Bonsai.
  • Marijuana Bonsai.
  • Judean Date Palm.
  • Baobab Bonsai Tree.
  • Dragon's Blood Bonsai Tree.

Five Trees That Will Make Excellent Bonsai Tree Specimens

It is important to note that developing a bonsai tree hobby is not restricted to those with a large disposable income. There are plenty of more affordable and easily attainable tree specimens that you can use to create your own Bonsai tree, or purchase ready-made. Below, we have five tree specimens that will make excellent bonsai trees:

  • Juniper Tree. You can purchase your own Juniper Bonsai tree from us here.
  • Pine Tree. You can purchase your own Pine Bonsai Tree from us here.
  • Japanese Maple Tree. You can purchase your own Japanese Maple Bonsai Tree from us here.
  • Japanese Flowering Cherry Tree.
  • Cedar Tree. You can purchase your own Cedar Bonsai Tree from us here.

 

What Is The Most Expensive Bonsai Tree?

The most expensive bonsai tree that has ever been sold in history was in 2012, when the 'old pine' bonsai tree was sold in Japan at the International Bonsai Convention for $1.3 million US Dollars. The particular Bonsai tree was approximately 800 years old, which further confirms that the older your bonsai tree is, the more expensive and valuable it will be or become.

Interestingly, this is not the world's oldest bonsai tree. That title belongs to the bonsai tree located in the Crespi Bonsai Museum in Italy. This piece of history is believed to be over 1,000 years old.

What Factors Affect The Price Of Bonsai Trees?

In this section, we will delve into the various factors that can either positively or negatively affect the price of any bonsai tree.

The Age Of The Bonsai Tree

Perhaps the key aspect that you need to take into consideration when deciding whether to purchase a particular bonsai tree is the age of the tree itself. The general rule of thumb is that the older the bonsai tree is, the more expensive it will be to purchase. But it will also have a higher value. Some bonsai trees can be hundreds of years old, or maybe even thousands of years old, in rare cases. But do not be fooled, the older your bonsai tree is, the more time you will need to dedicate to its care and maintenance.

The Design Or Formation Of The Bonsai Tree

Many bonsai tree fanatics are often initially drawn to the quirky and unique designs and formations that the tree branches and leaves come in. But did you know that they are trained this way? Yes. Bonsai tree masters and owners have to spend their time painstakingly training their bonsai trees to hold specific shapes and designs. Naturally, the more elaborate the design the bonsai tree has, the more expensive it will be. The following three designs are considered to be the most complex designs in bonsai tree art. They are called Kengai, Ikadabuki, and Han-Kengau.

The History And Specie Of The Bonsai

We have already briefly touched on this point, but some types of bonsai tree are naturally more expensive than others. This is because of the trees history, for example bonsai tree species or specific bonsai trees themselves that can be traced back through history, are more valuable and expensive than the ones that cannot be tracked in the same way.

The Location That The Bonsai Tree Was Grown In

This can relate to one of two factors. The first being whether the bonsai tree that you are purchasing was grown in its place of origin. In which case, you may pay a premium for the authenticity factor, as well as how much it may cost to transport your bonsai tree to you. Alternatively, if you are looking to purchase a bonsai tree from a dealer, grower, or store, that is located near to you, but is not the bonsai tree's area of origin. If this is the case, you may also see an increase in the bonsai tree's price due to the time and effort the bonsai tree grower will have taken to ensure that the environment is perfect for bonsai tree cultivation.

That concludes our guide to the costs of bonsai trees! Now you know why bonsai trees are as expensive as they are. Whether that is because of their age, location of growth, history or tree specie, or even the design or formation of the tree itself. But with bonsai trees priced from anything between $20 to hundreds or thousands of dollars, there is a bonsai tree out there for everyone!

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