Bonsai Tree Sizes
Bonsai trees are grouped into size classes based on their height and how many hands it takes to move them, creating a sense of scale and proportion in display. The smallest category is the Shito, or fingertip bonsai, which grows no taller than about five centimeters and can be held between two fingers. Slightly larger are Mame bonsai, between five and fifteen centimeters tall, small enough to lift with one hand and admired for their charm and simplicity. Next come the Shohinbonsai, which stand fifteen to twenty-five centimeters tall and are still considered miniature but large enough to show fine details and a sense of age.
Moving into the medium range, the Komono bonsai measure roughly twenty-five to forty centimeters in height, light enough to be handled with one or two hands. The Chumono class ranges from about forty to sixty centimeters and requires two hands to move; these are among the most popular sizes, offering a pleasing balance between manageability and realism.
The large bonsai classes include the Omono, which reach sixty to one hundred twenty centimeters in height and often need more than two hands to carry. Beyond that are the Dai or Dai-bonsai, measuring up to one hundred fifty centimeters and typically requiring two people to move. The grandest of all are the Imperial bonsai, towering over one hundred fifty centimeters and often displayed in temples or palace gardens.
Together, these categories—from the tiny fingertip bonsai to the majestic Imperial trees—demonstrate the wide expressive range within bonsai art, each scale offering its own balance of delicacy, presence, and storytelling potential.
