Adelaide’s Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters, is ideal for many bonsai favourites. Pines, junipers, olives and Chinese elm thrive, and maples and other deciduous trees grow well with summer shade. The city is smaller than Sydney or Melbourne, so its bonsai scene is close-knit, with a handful of specialist nurseries and an active society.
This guide compares Adelaide’s bonsai nurseries and teachers. It covers where they are, when you can visit, what beginner trees they stock, whether they run classes or offer repotting, how you can collect or receive your tree, and which kind of buyer each one suits best.
Before you visit: Several of Adelaide’s bonsai sellers are small or home-based, and some open by appointment only. Phone before you make the drive.
Adelaide Bonsai Nurseries at a Glance
| Nursery | Area | Visiting | Classes | Services | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonsai Mujo | Nailsworth (inner north) | Contact before visiting | Beginner to advanced programs; year-long pine course | Design, maintenance, development; soils, pots, tools | Structured learning and quality supplies |
| Spirit of Bonsai | Glandore (inner south-west) | Phone ahead | Ask about beginner lessons | Potted bonsai, pots, wire | A range of trees already in bonsai pots |
| Bonsai City | Modbury (north-east) | Contact before visiting | Ask | Bonsai specialist | North-eastern suburbs buyers |
| Oscar’s Bonsai Farm | Goolwa (Fleurieu Peninsula) | Saturdays 10am–3pm; other days by appointment | Not advertised | Styling and maintenance; tools | A weekend day trip |
| Hardware stores and garden centres | Citywide | Normal retail hours | No | Mixed starter bonsai | Low-cost starter material |
None of these nurseries advertise delivery online. Ask when you call.
Adelaide Bonsai Nurseries Compared
Bonsai Mujo, Nailsworth
A specialist nursery and teaching business run by a team of experienced bonsai growers, focused on cultivation, design and education.
- Location: 185 Main North Road, Nailsworth, SA 5083
- Visiting: Contact before visiting to check opening times.
- Trees: Established bonsai, pre-bonsai and stock to develop.
- Supplies: Handmade Yixing pots, tools and wire, plus bonsai soil components including akadama, kanuma, pumice, diatomite and pine bark.
- Classes: Hands-on group and one-on-one tuition, with beginner/intermediate, intermediate and advanced programs, plus a year-long pine course.
- Services: Bonsai design, maintenance and development.
- Best for: Beginners who want a structured learning path, and growers who need quality soil components and pots.
- Contact: bonsaimujo.com
Spirit of Bonsai, Glandore
A long-established bonsai shop on Anzac Highway, with a good range of trees already growing in bonsai pots.
- Location: 172 Anzac Highway, Glandore, SA 5037
- Visiting: Phone ahead to check opening times.
- Trees: Bonsai and pre-bonsai, mostly already in bonsai pots rather than plastic nursery containers.
- Supplies: Pots and wire.
- Classes: The shop has hosted introductory bonsai lessons. Ask about current dates.
- Best for: Buyers who want a tree that’s ready to display.
- Contact: (08) 8293 4004
Bonsai City, Modbury
A bonsai specialist in Adelaide’s north-eastern suburbs.
- Location: Modbury, SA
- Visiting: Contact before visiting.
- Best for: Buyers in the north-eastern suburbs.
- Contact: bonsaicity.com.au
Oscar’s Bonsai Farm, Goolwa
A bonsai farm on the Fleurieu Peninsula, about an hour south of the city, with free entry.
- Location: 11 Wright Road, Goolwa, SA 5214
- Visiting: Saturdays 10am–3pm, including public holidays. Other days by appointment.
- Trees: Bonsai and pre-bonsai, including junipers, deciduous and evergreen species, and some uncommon varieties.
- Supplies: A small range of bonsai tools, and some soil mixes in small bags.
- Services: Styling and maintenance.
- Best for: A weekend outing combined with a trip to the Fleurieu.
- Contact: 0451 662 372
Hardware stores and garden centres
Bunnings and many garden centres sell small starter bonsai and tubestock. Large general nurseries are also worth checking for pre-bonsai material such as maples, pines and junipers.
- Trees: Mixed starter plants, often including ficus, Chinese elm, juniper, maple, pine and serissa. The species varies, so check the label.
- Best for: Low-cost material to practise on.
- Watch for: Junipers and pines sold as indoor plants (they’re outdoor trees), pots without drainage holes, and soil that’s too dense for bonsai.
Beginner-Friendly Trees and Indicative Prices
The best beginner trees for Adelaide
| Tree | Why it suits Adelaide | Indoors or outdoors |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese elm | Tough, heat-tolerant and quick to respond to pruning | Outdoors |
| Juniper | Loves Adelaide’s sun and dry summers | Outdoors only |
| Olive | A Mediterranean tree that thrives in Adelaide’s climate | Outdoors |
| Trident maple | Hardy and colours well in autumn | Outdoors, with afternoon shade in summer |
| Ficus | Forgiving and fast-growing, but frost-tender | A bright indoor spot, or a sheltered outdoor position |
Summer heat: Adelaide regularly has days above 40°C. Give bonsai afternoon shade or 30–50% shade cloth during heatwaves, keep pots off hot paving, and check water morning and evening. Maples need shade in the hottest months to avoid leaf scorch.
Natives: Melaleuca, callistemon and other Australian natives suit Adelaide’s dry summers and make good bonsai.
Indicative prices
| What you’re buying | Indicative price |
|---|---|
| Starter tubestock (50 mm), hardware store | about $10 |
| Small starter bonsai in a 150 mm ceramic pot, hardware store | about $38 |
| Pre-bonsai, specialist nursery | [confirm with nurseries] |
| Ready-made beginner bonsai, specialist nursery | [confirm with nurseries] |
| Beginner course or workshop | [confirm with nurseries] |
Hardware-store prices are from Bunnings online listings, October 2026. Prices change, so check before you buy.
Value tip: Ask whether the price includes the pot and bonsai soil. A tree in a plastic nursery pot is usually cheaper, and lets you choose the display pot yourself. The Bonsai Society of SA’s annual show is also a good place to buy well-priced local trees.
Advice, Classes and Repotting Help
Bonsai Society of SA
Adelaide’s main bonsai club, also known as the South Australian Bonsai Society, meets at Goodwood Community Centre, 32a Rosa Street, Goodwood, on the first and third Tuesdays of the month.
- Activities: Club meetings and workshops, a sales table, and an annual show.
- Annual show: Held at Goodwood Community Centre in October, with entry by gold coin donation. Bonsai, pre-bonsai, tools and pots are for sale.
- Best for: Beginners who want regular help from experienced local growers, and buyers looking for good-value trees at the annual show.
- Website: bonsaisa.org.au
Regional club
The Bonsai Society of Mount Gambier meets on the third Sunday of each month, 11am–12pm, at the Gardenarium, 167 Bay Road, Moorak.
Classes and courses
| Provider | Format |
|---|---|
| Bonsai Mujo (Nailsworth) | Group and one-on-one tuition: beginner/intermediate, intermediate and advanced programs, plus a year-long pine course |
| Spirit of Bonsai (Glandore) | Has hosted introductory lessons; ask about current dates |
| Bonsai Society of SA | Club workshops for members |
Paid repotting, styling and care
- Bonsai Mujo: design, maintenance and development.
- Oscar’s Bonsai Farm: styling and maintenance.
Repot most species in late winter to early spring (about August to October). Book care services ahead in those months.
Where to see bonsai in Adelaide
The Bonsai Society of SA’s annual show at Goodwood each October is the best place to see quality local bonsai, and to buy them. Oscar’s Bonsai Farm at Goolwa has free entry on Saturdays.
Which Adelaide Bonsai Nursery Suits You?
| If you are… | Try |
|---|---|
| A complete beginner wanting a structured course | Bonsai Mujo’s beginner program |
| Wanting a tree that’s ready to display | Spirit of Bonsai, Glandore |
| Needing quality soil components and pots | Bonsai Mujo, Nailsworth |
| In the north-eastern suburbs | Bonsai City, Modbury |
| Needing a tree styled or maintained | Bonsai Mujo, or Oscar’s Bonsai Farm |
| Looking for a weekend outing | Oscar’s Bonsai Farm, Goolwa |
| Wanting good-value local trees | The Bonsai Society of SA’s October show |
| On a tight budget and keen to experiment | Hardware-store starter stock, plus advice from the society |
Tips for Buying Bonsai in Adelaide
- Ask for the botanical name. It tells you whether the tree lives indoors or outdoors and how to care for it.
- Choose for Adelaide’s summers. Junipers, pines, olives and Chinese elm handle heat and dry air well. Maples need afternoon shade.
- Check the tree’s health. Look for firm, green foliage, new growth, no pests under the leaves, and roots that are firm rather than mushy.
- Check the pot drains. Every bonsai pot needs drainage holes.
- Plan the trip home. Keep the tree out of a hot car boot in summer, and water it when you get home.
- Buying interstate: South Australia has plant biosecurity rules for plants coming from other states. Check with the seller before ordering a tree from interstate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy a bonsai tree in Adelaide?
Specialist sellers include Bonsai Mujo in Nailsworth, Spirit of Bonsai in Glandore and Bonsai City in Modbury. Oscar’s Bonsai Farm in Goolwa is a popular day trip. Hardware stores and garden centres also sell starter bonsai.
What’s the best bonsai for a beginner in Adelaide?
A Chinese elm or juniper grown outdoors. Both handle Adelaide’s hot, dry summers well and respond quickly to pruning. For indoors, choose a ficus and keep it near a bright window.
Are there bonsai classes in Adelaide?
Yes. Bonsai Mujo runs beginner, intermediate and advanced programs, plus a year-long pine course. The Bonsai Society of SA holds workshops for members.
Is there a bonsai club in Adelaide?
Yes. The Bonsai Society of SA meets at Goodwood Community Centre on the first and third Tuesdays of the month, and holds an annual show every October.
Where can I see bonsai in Adelaide?
The Bonsai Society of SA’s annual show at Goodwood in October. Oscar’s Bonsai Farm at Goolwa also has free entry on Saturdays.
Related Guides
- Bonsai Tree Care for Beginners
- Bonsai in Australia
- Bonsai Tools and Supplies
- Melbourne Bonsai Buyer’s Guide
- Sydney Bonsai Buyer’s Guide
- Brisbane Bonsai Buyer’s Guide
Disclosure: The Bonsai Master has no paid relationships with any business in this guide. Nurseries are included because they suit Adelaide bonsai buyers, not because they pay us. If we add affiliate links or paid partnerships, we’ll label them clearly on this page. Last updated: [October 2026].