Forest Style Bonsai & Korabuki Style Bonsai image

Forest & Korabuki Style Bonsai Trees - Exquisitely Beautiful Variations

Forest & Korabuki Style Bonsai:

Beyond the basic styles of bonsai tree art like Chokkan and Moyogi, there are other wonderful variations like the forest and korabuki styles.

There are not only infinite styles of bonsai growing art; the individual bonsai artist creates their own individual aesthetic. Two popular variations of bonsai growing are the Forest and Korabuki bonsai styles.

Forest (Yose) Style
The forest style of bonsai growing is often referred to as a group display. A Forest style bonsai garden is just what the name suggests.

The forest bonsai style is multiple bonsai trees in a single pot. To grow bonsai trees in the Forest style, any species of tree or shrub will do.

Generally, a Forest style bonsai display contains only trees of one species. Creating a bonsai of the forest style with multiple species will make caring for the display very difficult because different plants need differing amounts of sun and water.

In the Forest style of bonsai growing, there are several sub-styles. Generally, the sub-style of Forest growing is denoted by the number of trunks in a particular display. Most displays are harder to care for as the number of trunks (trees) increases.

Common sub-styles of the Forest style of bonsai growing:

Sambon-Yose (3 trunks)
Gohon-Yose (5 trunks)
Nanahon-Yose (7 trunks)
Kyuhon-Yose (9 trunks)

In the Forest style of bonsai growing, some bonsai displays will grow from a single root in the soil. In this case, each trunk of the tree is more like an above ground branch. This sub-style of the Forest bonsai growing is called Kabudachi.

Korabuki (Raft) Style
When a bonsai tree’s roots retain adequate contact with the earth, it is very possible for them to grow horizontally.

This style of bonsai growing is very extreme, yet it still can emulate what is seen in nature. Korabuki bonsai style is supposed to mimic the oddities found in nature. Trees that continue to grow even after they have fallen over.

Generally, Korabuki style trees will have the trunks resting on the soil, or just slightly out of the ground. Rarely, Korabuki style bonsai trees will have trunks that have sunken under the soil, while the branches sprout up and resemble separate trees.

One variation or sub-style of the Korabuki bonsai style is called Ikadabuki (the straight line). In this variation of the Korabuki bonsai style, the trunk of the tree is elevated completely clear of the soil. Often times in Ikadabuki, the trunk of the tree will grow just level with the surface of the soil.

Another variation of the Korabuki bonsai style is a sub-style called Netsunagari. In the Netsunagari bonsai style, the roots of the tree will flow through the soil causing the trunk to become very twisted.
Both the Forest and Korabuki style bonsai trees are more complex to grow. Both styles involve the look of multiple bonsai trees and can lend themselves well to more unnatural looking variations.

The Forest and Korabuki styles are set to mimic trees in their natural forms. The Forest style of bonsai growing is supposed to display bonsai trees, as they should be in a natural forest. The Korabuki style of bonsai growing is suppose to show the natural oddities that occur in nature with trees.

The Korabuki style of bonsai can display trees that have fallen over and continue to grow. Like the Forest bonsai style, Korabuki also showcases multiple trees. However, with the Korabuki style of bonsai, the multiple trees are an illusion produced by the branches of a fallen or sunken tree trunk.

These styles of bonsai growing are styles that are more complex. The main purpose of these styles is to reflect different types of multiple tree fixtures that are found in nature. No matter which style you choose, whether the forest style or the korabuki style, each is beautiful in its own way.


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