Binomial name: Fagus crenata
Family: Fagaceae
Japanese name: Buna
English name: Siebold’s Beech
Description: Buna grows wild mainly in high mountains. A forest of buna trees in the Shirakami-Sanchi mountain range in northeastern Japan is one of the world’s largest buna forests. It is listed on the United Nations’ World Heritage sites. As a bonsai material, the trunk surface of buna turns whitish after being grown in a container for a long period of time. Male and female flowers can be enjoyed in May together with fresh greens. There is a variety of forms of leaves depending on the location of growth. Buna trees that grow wild on the Pacific side of Japan, such as Fuji-buna, have smaller leaves than those grown in other parts of the country and their trunks are whitish. So the Pacific buna trees are preferred in the bonsai world. As buna is arboreal, its top parts tend to grow strongly. The upper and lower parts of a buna bonsai could go off balance without diligent metsumi bud trimming and hagiri leaf cutting. As buna sucks up water well, full attention should be paid not to cause mizugire water shortfalls in budding and summer seasons. Hamizu leaf moistening is also effective to protect it against severe desiccation.
Viewing season: Year round (January-February for deciduous trees, May for fresh greens, October-November for autumn leaves)

translated by Kyodo News