Looking to get started in bonsai? The Portland area is home to several bonsai nurseries and gardens that offer plants, classes and supplies. Local bonsai practitioners also offer advice and host workshops on the gardening art.
Here are some resources to get you started on your bonsai journey:
Collect trees yourself. Individuals can harvest trees under 2 feet tall from national forests, including Mt. Hood National Forest, without a permit, if the trees are collected roadside along forest roads. Trees harvested under this rule must be for personal use and cannot be sold.
In Oregon state forests, bare root seedlings can also be collected for personal use along ditch-lines and cut banks without a permit.
Bonsai Akira in Portland’s West Moreland neighborhood is open by appointment and sells finished, sculpted and potted bonsai. Owner Lucy Davenport, who’s worked in bonsai for 10 years, has about 100 bonsai for sale. Tree prices range from $160 to $750. Davenport also offers private lessons, gardening classes, and care and restoration work on existing bonsai. For more information, visit bonsaiakira.com or email bonsaiakirapdx@gmail.com.
Crataegus Bonsai was founded in Milwaukie by Michael Hagedorn, the bonsai consultant for the Portland Japanese Garden and author of “Bonsai Heresy: 56 Myths Exposed Using Science & Tradition.” Crataegus Bonsai offers online courses, private consultations, sales of finished bonsai and free tours of the garden upon request. Find more information at crataegus.com
Kyōdai Bonsai, open by appointment in Portland, offers a variety of bonsai species from high-end, collector-level trees to options for beginners. A website is still in the works, but interested shoppers can follow kyodai_bonsai on Instagram or email kyodai.pdx@gmail.com for more information.
Left Coast Bonsai in Gales Creek sells pre-bonsai plants as well as bonsai supplies and pottery. The small family nursery is open by appointment only. Owner John Eads offers trainings on caring for bonsai. Learn more at leftcoastbonsai.com or by emailing talk@leftcoastbonsai.com.
Bonsai Mirai in St. Helens is run by one of the country’s most renowned bonsai artists, Ryan Neil. Bonsai Mirai sells pots, furniture, trees, tools — everything you need for your bonsai journey. But these pieces aren’t cheap. Stands start at $1,260. Trees sell for upwards of $7,000. Most of the handcrafted pots are in the $1,200 range. The studio also hosts workshops and provides online classes. For more information, visit bonsaimirai.com.
Portland Bonsai Supply is an online-only retailer that sells soils, fertilizers, wire, tools and pots for bonsai gardening. Pots range from about $32 for small dishes to $90 for larger containers. Pick can be arranged for Portland-area orders to avoid shipping or delivery costs. For more information, visit portlandbonsaisupply.com.
Portland Nursery has two locations (5050 S.E. Stark St. and 9000 S.E. Division St.) that carry bonsai stock, pots and supplies. Spring hours are 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday-Sunday. For more information, visit portlandnursery.com.
Rakuyo Bonsai in Milwaukie, led by Andrew Robson, focuses on deciduous bonsai. Rakuyo offers classes, finished bonsai and consultations. Visitors can tour the bonsai garden at no charge by appointment. For more information, visit rakuyobonsai.com.
River Rock Nursery in the Carver community in Clackamas County is a small, family-owned nursery that sells pre-bonsai trees online and in person by appointment. Owners Gretchen and Bob O’Brien have more than 30 years’ experience collecting and propagating unique plants. For more information, visit riverrocknursery.com, call 503-936-5901 or email gretchenriverrock@gmail.com.
Owner Matt "Bee" James, owner of Thousand Cranes Bonsai in Estacada, sells pre-bonsai plants and seedlings. Some have been shaped by wire, but others are ready to be fully trained into bonsai by their new owners.Samantha Swindler/ The Oregonian
Thousand Cranes Bonsai in Estacada, also open by appointment only, sells pre-bonsai starts and seedlings, finished bonsai and some trees that have begun their “bonsai training” with wires and shaping. Pre-bonsai seedlings start at $8. Those interested in learning bonsai can volunteer at the nursery for “learn while you work” events. Reach out via Facebook or Instagram at thousand.cranes.bonsai or via email at thousand.cranes.bonsai@gmail.com.
Bonsai events
The Gresham Japanese Garden, 219 S. Main Ave. in Gresham, offers “Art of Bonsai” classes from 1 to 3 p.m. the third Thursdays and third Saturdays of the month. Instructor Bobby Curttright will guide you through the creation of a bonsai project. Cost is $40 and includes the tree and all materials. Find more information at GreshamJapaneseGarden.org.
The Bonsai Society of Portland will host an “Oregon Shohin Krafters” workshop from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 12 at the Milwaukie Community Center, 5440 S.E. Kellogg Creek Drive. Participants will craft a deciduous shohin bonsai from a trident maple. This is open to Bonsai Society members only (membership is $30) and requires pre-registration at portlandbonsai.org.
The Bonsai Society of Portland Exhibition will be 10 a.m.-5 p.m. April 26 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 27 at the Portland Japanese Garden. This exhibition will include dozens of bonsai from society members’ private collections, including coniferous, deciduous, fruiting and flowering species. The exhibition is included with $22.50 adult admission to the garden, 611 S.W. Kingston Ave.; japanesegarden.org.
Bonsai instructors
Award-winning bonsai designer Lee Cheatle of Tigard has been the Bonsai Society of Portland’s mentorship chair for 12 years. He offers individual and group bonsai workshops, including home visits. Students are also invited to visit his home garden. For more information on classes, email leecheatlebonsai@gmail.com.
Scott Elser, another award-winning bonsai designer from Portland, teaches and hosts demonstrations for Bonsai Society of Portland and throughout the Northwest. He can be reached at bonsaielser@gmail.com.
— Samantha Swindler covers features for The Oregonian/OregonLive and Here is Oregon. Reach her at sswindler@oregonian.com.
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