The Japanese bonsai world's reference conifer — Picea jezoensis is the Hokkaido spruce that Japanese master bonsaïka have cultivated across generations.
What makes it unique. Picea jezoensis develops with age a grey to brownish-grey bark that flakes in irregular plates of great aesthetic refinement. Its short flat needles, dark shiny green on the upper surface and adorned with two silver-white stomatal bands on the underside, insert on persistent foliar cushions (sterigmata) characteristic of spruces (Picea). The secondary branchlets droop naturally, giving the silhouette a lightness and movement particular to this species. It is one of the most represented conifers in the great Japanese bonsai exhibitions.
Origin. Native to the humid boreal forests of Hokkaido, eastern Siberia and the mountains of Korea, Picea jezoensis grows in cold conditions, in acid, moist but well-drained forest soils, often near watercourses. This cold, humid biotope directly conditions all its cultural requirements.
An exceptional bonsai for experienced practitioners. Picea jezoensis is demanding on two non-negotiable points: sufficient winter cold and regular moisture throughout the year. It tolerates neither prolonged heat nor repeated drought. Beyond these constraints, its progressive and predictable growth, its consistent behaviour under pruning and the beauty of its ageing make it one of the most rewarding conifer bonsai over the long term.
The Japanese bonsai world's reference conifer — Picea jezoensis is the Hokkaido spruce that Japanese master bonsaïka have cultivated across generations.
What makes it unique. Picea jezoensis develops with age a grey to brownish-grey bark that flakes in irregular plates of great aesthetic refinement. Its short flat needles, dark shiny green on the upper surface and adorned with two silver-white stomatal bands on the underside, insert on persistent foliar cushions (sterigmata) characteristic of spruces (Picea). The secondary branchlets droop naturally, giving the silhouette a lightness and movement particular to this species. It is one of the most represented conifers in the great Japanese bonsai exhibitions.
Origin. Native to the humid boreal forests of Hokkaido, eastern Siberia and the mountains of Korea, Picea jezoensis grows in cold conditions, in acid, moist but well-drained forest soils, often near watercourses. This cold, humid biotope directly conditions all its cultural requirements.
An exceptional bonsai for experienced practitioners. Picea jezoensis is demanding on two non-negotiable points: sufficient winter cold and regular moisture throughout the year. It tolerates neither prolonged heat nor repeated drought. Beyond these constraints, its progressive and predictable growth, its consistent behaviour under pruning and the beauty of its ageing make it one of the most rewarding conifer bonsai over the long term.