Serissa foetida is the bonsai of endless flowering — its tiny white stars follow one another without pause from spring to autumn, earning it the poetic name of Tree of a Thousand Stars.
What makes it unique. Few species offer such generous flowering in an indoor bonsai. The miniature star-shaped white flowers appear in successive waves on branchlets covered in small oval leaves of a brilliant dark green — creating an effect of light snow on the tree. Serissa readily emits back-buds on old wood, allowing rapid densification of ramification even on old stems. Its fine wood, moderate growth and tolerance of repeated pruning make it a prime subject for refined styles in small or medium format.
Origin. Native to Southeast Asia — southern China, Japan, Vietnam — Serissa foetida grows naturally in humid understorey and on the edges of subtropical forests. It evolves under filtered light, in a constantly moist atmosphere and mild temperatures. Its Latin name foetida — "that smells unpleasant" — refers to the disagreeable smell emitted by its roots and wood when cut, a harmless but surprising characteristic for the uninitiated practitioner.
A generous bonsai, but sensitive to change. Its spectacular flowering and easy ramification make it a very rewarding bonsai. But Serissa foetida is known to react violently to abrupt changes in light, temperature or watering — sudden defoliation does not always mean the tree is lost, but that something has changed in its environment.
Serissa foetida is the bonsai of endless flowering — its tiny white stars follow one another without pause from spring to autumn, earning it the poetic name of Tree of a Thousand Stars.
What makes it unique. Few species offer such generous flowering in an indoor bonsai. The miniature star-shaped white flowers appear in successive waves on branchlets covered in small oval leaves of a brilliant dark green — creating an effect of light snow on the tree. Serissa readily emits back-buds on old wood, allowing rapid densification of ramification even on old stems. Its fine wood, moderate growth and tolerance of repeated pruning make it a prime subject for refined styles in small or medium format.
Origin. Native to Southeast Asia — southern China, Japan, Vietnam — Serissa foetida grows naturally in humid understorey and on the edges of subtropical forests. It evolves under filtered light, in a constantly moist atmosphere and mild temperatures. Its Latin name foetida — "that smells unpleasant" — refers to the disagreeable smell emitted by its roots and wood when cut, a harmless but surprising characteristic for the uninitiated practitioner.
A generous bonsai, but sensitive to change. Its spectacular flowering and easy ramification make it a very rewarding bonsai. But Serissa foetida is known to react violently to abrupt changes in light, temperature or watering — sudden defoliation does not always mean the tree is lost, but that something has changed in its environment.