What is bonsai?

Bonsai means “tree in a pot” in Chinese and is pronounced BONE-sigh. It is a special method for growing trees or shrubs in a pot, tray, or dish, which results in an artificially dwarfed plant. Bonsais are regular trees or shrubs, such as juniper or cypress, that are stunted by pruning their roots and tying their branches with wire. The art originated in China around 200 C.E., and was adapted by the Japanese early in the sixth and seventh centuries.

Some people think that bonsai trees are dwarf trees, but they actually are regular trees and bushes that have been specially pruned to look like miniature versions of themselves.