Oldest Bonsai Tree: Fascinating Facts On Bonsai Trees For Kids!

Oluniyi Akande
Oct 25, 2023 By Oluniyi Akande
Originally Published on Nov 18, 2021
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Green Juniper Bonsai Tree with Shibari.

The bonsai is one of the oldest trees in the world and is a Japanese version of an originally Chinese art named penzai.

A bonsai tree is also a piece of Asian aesthetic culture. There were nurseries of bonsai trees that were created by the first two generations of Japanese immigrants and were sold at high prices; the most expensive tree was sold for $1.3 million.

The word bonsai stands for 'a dwarfed shrub or tree'. There are categories of bonsai trees, and the name of the smallest bonsai tree is Acer Momiji. These trees are created through a process of cutting, seeding, or developing. These processes are used outside of bonsai tree production as well.

There was a museum named Shunkaen Bonsai that was owned and operated by bonsai master, Kunio Kobayashi. It had many old bonsai trees and was located in the city of Tokyo.

It had 800 pairs of the oldest bonsai trees. There are many old bonsai trees present in the world.

In order of age, the youngest tree in the sequence is a chabo-hiba cypresse, then a Yamaki pine, a Sandai Shogun No Matsu, a red pine bonsai, a bonsai tree at the Shunkaen nursery, an old juniper bonsai tree, and the last one is a Ficus bonsai tree.

Maintaining a bonsai tree is not hard if you have the correct knowledge about how to do it. They should have ample sunlight to grow.

For more interesting content, you can read these ocean facts for kids and learn if coconuts are a fruit.

What are bonsais, and how are they different from other trees?

In the past, there was a traditional Chinese version called penzai. Later, in Japanese, they were named bonsai trees.

These trees were considered the largest bonsai worldwide, especially the bonsai trees present in the Akao herb and rose garden, which were found around 600 years ago and in Atami, Japan. These trees are 16-30 ft (4.87-9.14 m) in height and width but need a little support.

Typically, these miniature trees are grown in containers from which they get their support.

Bonsai trees are different from other trees in some ways, as other trees have their own habitat, and some of them can grow anywhere in any condition.

A bonsai tree is collected from a Japanese forest and is later stored in an Omiyan bonsai village.

There are seven different types of bonsai trees in the world, and bonsai trees have the capacity to survive for many years. One notable case is that a Japanese white pine survived in Hiroshima for almost 400 years because of the patience and hard work of six generations of the Yamaki family.

A cypress bonsai is the oldest living bonsai tree in the US, and you can have a look at it at Arnold Arboretum on the Harvard University campus.

Where is the oldest bonsai tree in the world located, and how old is it?

Bonsai trees have a very long lifespan and they live to a very old age. For example, one survived in Hiroshima from about 400 years ago.

The oldest bonsai tree in the world is located on Mount Morija in Malawi; it is about 1000 years old in age and is still found in the US nowadays. The bonsai tree was found near the entrance of the national bonsai in Washington DC.

The seven oldest bonsai trees in the world are as follows: chabo-hiba cypresses, Yamaki pine, Sandai Shogun No Matsu, red pine bonsai, bonsai trees at Shunkaen nursery, old juniper bonsai tree, and the last one is a Ficus bonsai tree. These trees are said to be able to live up to 1000 years.

People and monks grow bonsai trees in their garden and then take care of them by which they may live to a great age.

One collection is being placed in Tokyo, Japan, where a white pine bonsai lived for about 400 years, and the Sandai Shogun Matsu reached the age of 500 years old.

Bonsai trees are known to be the longest-living trees in the world compared to any other tree from any other family. The aged juniper bonsai tree belongs to the family of Kato, Japan.

Miniature Jade Bonsai tree.

Why are bonsai so expensive?

The oldest bonsai in the world are still sold at a very high rate, and they are expensive because of their age. They can also be expensive if they are part of a huge collection, are in an expensive pot and if they are among the world's oldest bonsai trees.

They are crafted by craftsmen which increases their value and price.

They can be about 100 ft (30.48 m) tall in length and 16-30 ft (4.87-9.14 m) wide. The famous national treasure of Japan is a five-needle pine called the Sandai Shogun No Matsu.

The red pine bonsai tree is 600 years old and is the world's largest oldest bonsai tree. There was an unnamed bonsai tree which was an 800-year-old bonsai in Tokyo, Japan.

There are two different categories of the oldest bonsai trees in the world in Italy; found in the Crespi bonsai museum is the Ficus retusa Linn. These were also around 100 ft (30.48 m) tall in length.

They are expensive because they are perfectly shallow, have different designs on each pot, and they are one of those species of tree that live a very long life.

They are easy to be taken care of, and this is the same with the trees located in Japan that are taken care of by Omiya japan. There was an artist named John Naka, who created an 11 tree combination that is now housed in the National Arboretum in Washington, DC.

How much is a 400-year-old bonsai tree worth?

There are many bonsai trees. One of them is not even named and is an 800-year-old bonsai.

It is a famous tree which is located in Tokyo, Japan, and was managed by bonsai master, Omiya, in Japan. There is a list of the oldest bonsai trees that have lived for around 400 years. For those with a lifespan of 400 years, the maximum price is $54,000.

Any bonsai in the world can be identified through its markings and the pot in which it is placed because they are each designed in a different and beautiful manner. One red pine bonsai lived for about 600 years and was located in Atami, Japan.

It was one of the largest and oldest bonsai trees in the world. Some of them are still kept in the bonsai museum.

How old a bonsai tree is will affect its cost. The ficus retusa linn and the crespi bonsai in Italy are the oldest bonsai trees and are still sold at high prices.

Any 5-10 year old bonsai trees will cost just $250-$400, and the prices are the same all over the world. They are mainly sold in cities in Italy and Japan which are home to the largest collection of these bonsai trees.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 'The oldest bonsai tree: fascinating facts on bonsai trees for kids!'

then why not take a look at 'Anaconda vs python: fang-tastic snake difference facts for kids', or 'How hot is magma? Worth to know volcano facts for curious kids'?

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Written by Oluniyi Akande

Doctorate specializing in Veterinary Medicine

Oluniyi Akande picture

Oluniyi AkandeDoctorate specializing in Veterinary Medicine

With an accomplished background as a Veterinarian, SEO content writer, and public speaker, Oluniyi brings a wealth of skills and experience to his work. Holding a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Ibadan, he provides exceptional consulting services to pet owners, animal farms, and agricultural establishments. Oluniyi's impressive writing career spans over five years, during which he has produced over 5000 high-quality short- and long-form pieces of content. His versatility shines through as he tackles a diverse array of topics, including pets, real estate, sports, games, technology, landscaping, healthcare, cosmetics, personal loans, debt management, construction, and agriculture.

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