Starting Year: 2024;
Provenance: Italy;
Container: Wooden Container;
Source: Nursery.

Style: Kabudachi (Clump Style);
Height: 90cm;
Nebari: 28cm;
Age: Around 20 years old.

Acquired in early 2024, this Thuja orientalis began its journey with us after years of neglect in the forgotten corners of a local nursery. Hidden away and untouched, the tree had developed a raw, unrefined character—untamed but full of potential. Upon arrival at the Bonsaigers Garden, it was immediately recognized for its unique natural clump formation, consisting of 15 distinct trunks emerging from a common base.

To begin its transformation, the tree was repotted into a custom wooden training container, designed to gradually reduce the root mass and promote a shallower, more refined nebari over time. This essential step marked the start of its transition from a forgotten tree to a living sculpture.

Standing at approximately 90 cm in height, the multi-trunked composition creates an expansive, cohesive canopy with a natural forest-like presence. The clump style—rare and evocative—offers an impression of an ancient grove growing together from a shared origin, each trunk contributing to a unified silhouette.

Styling work was completed in late 2024, focusing on opening up the structure, defining movement, and encouraging balanced light distribution throughout the canopy. Now, in mid-2025, we are witnessing the early results of that effort: vibrant new growth pushing out, filling the structure, and softening the lines of the composition. The tree is gaining maturity and visual density, with lush green blueish foliage developing in harmony across the trunks.

This Thuja orientalis clump is more than a bonsai—it’s a revival story, a testament to time, patience, and the quiet resilience of a tree once overlooked.