Most Expensive Bonsai Trees in the World
Have you ever wondered how expensive the most expensive bonsai trees in the world are?
Bonsai trees can vary in shape, size, age and also price. Young bonsai are affordable, but older trees with greater cultural and aesthetic value can cost anywhere from a few thousand to over a million pounds.
In this post we’ll have a look at some of the most expensive bonsai trees in the world, from centuries old junipers to massive pine trees.
Without further ado, let’s have a look at some of the priceless bonsai around the globe
8. Ficus Retusa Linn
This gorgeous Ficus Bonsai is not only thought to be the oldest bonsai tree in the world but is also one of the most expensive ones. The Ficus Retusa Linn which can currently be found at the Crespi Bonsai Museum in Italy was bought by Luigi Crespi in 1986 for over £80,000.
7. Kimura’s Japanese Black Pine Bonsai Tree
Masahiko Kimura is one of the most well-known and influential bonsai artists in modern day Japan. Anyone familiar with the art of bonsai can easily recognise his beautiful bonsai creations in magazines.
Although few of his bonsai trees have been bought, the ones sold have managed to fetch thousands of dollars. Probably most notorious is his Black Pine bonsai which sold for approximately £95,000.
6. Sargent Juniper Bonsai
Juniper bonsai trees have always been considered a prized possession for bonsai collectors all around the world as they are some of the rarest. These trees are also among the oldest, with the oldest juniper bonsai ever being a beautiful 1000-year-old tree owned by the Kato Family.
The extraordinarily beautiful Sargent Juniper bonsai was offered for sale at the Taikan-ten Bonsai Exhibition in Kyoto. The Taikan-ten is one of the few traditional bonsai exhibits, where many unique bonsai trees are displayed and often sold.
This particular Juniper managed to fetch £315,000.
5. Shunkaen Bonsai Museum Juniper Tree
The Shunkaen Bonsai Museum is home to an amazing collection of bonsai trees. Among the many bonsai on display there are some of the world’s most expensive bonsai trees. One of them is a rare Juniper tree. This unique tree is recognised for its age (approximately 800 years) and valued at over $400,000 or about £360,000.
4. Five-Needle Pine Bonsai Tree
Japanese White Pine trees, commonly known as five-needle pines, are known for being among the most expensive bonsai trees. In addition this species can grow up to two feet per year, which makes five-needle pine bonsai the quickest growing and tallest bonsai trees in the world.
White Pine bonsai trees can vary in age from a few years to a few centuries old. The most expensive five-needle pine was sold at an auction for around £535,000.
3. Shunkaen Bonsai Museum Black Pine
Another one of the world’s most highly valued bonsai located in the Shunkaen Bonsai Museum is the stunning Black Pine tree. This outstandingly beautiful and rare tree is worth an astounding £900,000.
2. Yamaki Pine Bonsai
Some bonsai trees may be expensive due to their age or size, while others are considered priceless because of their history and cultural significance. The perfect example for this is the Yamaki Pine bonsai.
This fantastic 300-year-old tree is currently located in the National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. The pine tree was donated to the museum by Masaru Yamaki in the 1970s as a gift from Japan to celebrate America’s 200th anniversary.
What’s unique about the Yamaki Pine bonsai is that it survived the Hiroshima atomic bomb in 1945. Footage shot by a Japanese news crew at the destroyed Yamaki Nursery following the bombing, shows the remarkable pine tree still standing in the background.
Although it has not been sold since being donated to the Arboretum, this pine bonsai is valued at approximately £1 million.
1. Takamatsu Pine Bonsai
This massive centuries old Pine bonsai was sold in 2012 at the International Bonsai Convention hosted in Takamatsu for the astonishing price of £1.2 million.
Standing at about three feet tall, this exemplary pine tree bonsai has a thick twisted trunk and skillfully pruned branches. This beautiful tree is not only one of the most expensive bonsai trees, but also one of the most expensive plants in the world.
So there you have it – the most expensive bonsai trees around the world! If you want your bonsai to potentially be worth just as much, you have to ensure you take great care of it. Find our best tips in our bonsai Care Hub!