• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Bonsai Tonight

An educational website about bonsai development

  • Blog
    • How-to Guides
  • Podcast
  • Shop
    • Bonsai
    • Books
    • Soil
    • Soil (wholesale)
    • Supplies
    • Tools
    • Video Consulting
    • Northern California Bonsai Resources
  • About
    • Workshops

National Bonsai and Penjing Museum – North American Pavilion

November 26, 2010 by Jonas Dupuich

What a who’s who of bonsai in America – the North American Pavilion at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum in Washington D.C. includes trees donated by many prominent names in American bonsai. Some of the names evoke the history of bonsai in America – others are friends. All are generous in their contributions to the collection.

The photos below are presented, with a few exceptions, in order of number of years in training, from the oldest to the newest. Two of the trees, including the crabapple below, belong to the Japanese Pavilion – the rest of the trees belong to the North American Collection.

Malus toringo - Toringo Crabapple. In training since 1905. Donated by Shyuichi Ueda. Japanese Collection.

Malus toringo – Toringo Crabapple. In training since 1905. Donated by Shyuichi Ueda. Japanese Collection.

Lagerstromia indica – Crapemyrtle. In training since 1930. Donated by Yuji Yoshimura. North American Collection.

Cedrus atlantica – Blue Atlas Cedar. In training since 1950. Donated by John Y. Naka. North American Collection.

“Goshin.” Juniperus chinensis ‘Foemina’ – Foemina Juniper. In training since 1953. Donated by John Y. Naka. North American Collection.

Pinus thunbergii – Japanese Black Pine. In training since 1955. Donated by George Yamaguchi. North American Collection.

Outstanding bark – a quality common to many of Yamaguchi’s pines.

Picea abies ‘Nidiformis’ – Bird’s Nest Spruce. In training since 1956. Donated by Philip Tacktill. North American Collection.

Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’ – Blue Atlas Cedar. In training since 1960. Donated by Frederic and Ernesta Ballard. North American Collection.

Pinus thunbergii ‘Tsukasa’ – Corkbark Japanese Black Pine. In training since 1964. Donated by Muriel R. Leeds. North American Collection.

Bark detail

Juniperus californica – California Juniper. In training since 1964. Donated by Harry Hirao. North American Collection.

Taxus cuspidata – Japanese Yew. In training since 1966. Donated by Reiji Takagi. Japanese Collection.

Taxodium distichum – Bald Cypress. In training since 1969. Donated by Vaughn L. Banting. North American Collection.

Juniperus chinensis ‘Foemina’ – Foemina Juniper. In training since 1970. Donated by Mas Moriguchi. North American Collection.

Carpinus betulus – European Hornbeam. In training since 1972. Donated by F. Chase Rosade. North American Collection.

Pinus sylvestris – Scotch Pine. In training since 1972. Donated by Roland Folse. North American Collection.

Acer rubrum var. drummondii – Red Maple. In training since 1974. Donated by Vaughn L. Banting. North American Collection.

Acer buergerianum – Trident Maple. In training since 1975. Donated by Ted C. Guyger. North American Collection.

Ulmus parvifolia ‘Catlin’ – ‘Catlin’ Chinese Elm. In training since 1976. Donated by Marybel Balendonck. North American Collection.

Juniperus communis ssp. depressa – Pastura Juniper. In training since 1980. Donated by Jack B. Douthitt. North American Collection.

Ulmus Minor – Smoothleaf Elm. In training since 1982. Donated by Keith B. Scott. North American Collection.

Acer buergerianum – Trident Maple. In training since 1985. Donated by Brussel Martin. North American Collection.

Elaeagnus pungens – Thorny Elaeagnus. Donated by Michael Naka. North American Collection.

Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii – Sargent Juniper. Donated by Sherwin Mitchell. North American Collection.

I was happy to see the shimpaku donated by Sherwin Mitchell. Sherwin was a friend and an early supporter of Bay Island Bonsai. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone work so hard in such nice clothes as Sherwin after one of our early shows.

Subscribe to Bonsai Tonight

New Posts Delivered Every Tuesday and Friday

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by Kit

Filed Under: Excursions Tagged With: National Bonsai and Penjing Museum

Previous Post: « National Bonsai and Penjing Museum
Next Post: Tropical bonsai at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum »

Footer

Follow Bonsai Tonight

Subscribe

Instagram ● Facebook ● Twitter
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Shop
  • About

P.O. Box 6560, Alameda, CA 94501 · 510-915-2025 · jonas (at) bonsaitonight (dot) com

© Copyright 2009-2025 Bonsai Tonight · All rights reserved · Privacy · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. You can opt-out if you wish. Accept Decline Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT