Cascade-Style Bonsai

Claude Sciberras

Why Do we Use Styles?There are several reasons for identifying a bonsai by a

named style:

Naming a style provides a graphic description of the tree.

When one person is talking to another about a bonsai and identifies its style, a mental-visual image of that style is evoked in the mind of the listener.

A style provides a direction of purpose when structuring a bonsai.

It is a shortcut to understanding.

Bonsai Styles

Upright Styles Cascade Styles Multiple Tree/Trunk Styles Bonsai With Special Characteristics

Cascade Styles

Cascade Semi-Cascade

Miniature Bonsai Literati Driftwood Weeping Exposed Roots Root on Rock /

Root in Rock

Bonsai With Special Characteristics

In cascade styles, the cascading part is called the NAGARE which means

“The flow or flowing”.

Cascade Styles A cascade style bonsai is one in which a major feature

extends below the lower rim of the pot. A semi-cascade style bonsai is one in which the major

cascading feature extends below the top rim of the pot but does not extend below the bottom of the pot.

What determines whether a cascade or semi-cascade is Formal or Informal is the part above the rim of the pot.

It depicts a tree in nature growing on a mountain top with all or a part of it hanging over the edge.

Cascade - Kengai

Semi Cascade - Han-Kengai

Container The container should

be relatively deep and may be round, square, octagonal, hexagonal, or a deep cascade.

The container may be glazed or unglazed depending on the species of tree.

Styling The Tree Roots:Remove

surface soil down to relatively thick radiating roots.

Surface roots should radiate in several directions but should be strongest on the side away from the direction of the lean.

Formal Semi-Cascade Tree

Informal Semi-Cascade

Formal Cascade Tree

As always in Bonsai, As always in Bonsai, Balance is of the Balance is of the essenceessence

Special Characteristics Miniature, Literati, Driftwood, Weeping,

Exposed Roots, Root on Rock and Root in Rock are not styles but characteristics as you can have a mame cascade or a Semi cascade with root on rock etc…

Miniature

Literati

Driftwood

Weeping

Exposed Roots

Root on Rock

Root in Rock