Bonsai Nurseries Perth: Where to Buy Bonsai Trees (2026)
Perth’s hot, dry summers, mild winters and strong sunshine suit many bonsai favourites, including junipers, pines, Chinese elm, olives and WA natives. The heat and wind mean Perth bonsai need more attention to watering and shade than in most Australian cities.
Western Australia’s strict biosecurity rules also limit which plants can come in from other states. That makes buying locally, from a Perth nursery or a club sale, the most practical option for most growers.
This guide compares Perth’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 advice, how you can collect your tree, and which kind of buyer each one suits best.
Before you visit: Hours change, so phone or check the website before you make the drive.
Perth Bonsai Nurseries at a Glance
| Nursery | Area | Visiting | Classes | Services | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonsai Emporium | West Swan (Swan Valley) | Wed–Sun, 10am–5pm | Ask about current classes | Free Saturday advice; trees, tools, pots, soil | A specialist range and free expert advice |
| Two Green Men | North Perth | Wed–Fri 10:30am–4pm; weekends 10am–3pm | Bonsai for Beginners workshop, from $99 | Bonsai tools and supplies | A beginner workshop with your own tree to take home |
| Hardware stores and garden centres | Citywide | Normal retail hours | No | Mixed starter bonsai | Low-cost starter material |
Neither specialist advertises delivery. Ask when you call.
Perth Bonsai Nurseries Compared
Bonsai Emporium, West Swan
A long-established specialist bonsai nursery in the Swan Valley.
- Location: 4433 West Swan Road, West Swan, WA 6055
- Visiting: Wednesday to Sunday, 10am–5pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday, and on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
- Trees: Pines, junipers, maples and Australian native trees.
- Supplies: Tools, pots and bonsai soil.
- Advice: Free advice sessions on Saturdays, 10am–12pm. Bring your own bonsai for professional advice.
- Classes: The nursery runs classes; check its website for the current schedule.
- Collection and delivery: Collect from the nursery; ask about delivery.
- Best for: Buyers who want a specialist range, and anyone with a struggling tree who wants free expert advice.
- Contact: bonsai-emporium.com
Two Green Men, North Perth
An inner-north plant and terrarium studio that runs a popular beginner bonsai workshop and stocks bonsai tools and supplies.
- Location: 472 Fitzgerald Street, North Perth, WA 6006
- Visiting: Wednesday to Friday 10:30am–4pm; Saturday and Sunday 10am–3pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
- Workshop: Bonsai for Beginners, from $99. The price includes a nursery-stock juniper (Juniperus procumbens ‘Nana’), a bonsai pot and soil, use of tools and wire, and step-by-step instruction. A two-tree option (two junipers, or a juniper and an Australian native) is $149. Participants get 20% off in-store purchases on the day.
- Supplies: Bonsai tools, fertilisers and plant-health products.
- Collection: In-store pickup at North Perth.
- Best for: Complete beginners who want a fun, hands-on first class and a tree to take home. It also makes a good gift.
- Contact: twogreenmen.com.au
Hardware stores and garden centres
Bunnings and many garden centres sell small starter bonsai and tubestock.
- 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.
Club sales
Perth’s bonsai clubs are some of the best places to buy trees. The Bonsai Society of WA runs bring-and-buy tables at many meetings, plus sales at its annual exhibition.
Beginner-Friendly Trees and Indicative Prices
The best beginner trees for Perth
| Tree | Why it suits Perth | Indoors or outdoors |
|---|---|---|
| Juniper | Loves full sun and handles heat well | Outdoors only |
| Chinese elm | Tough, heat-tolerant, responds quickly to pruning | Outdoors |
| Olive | A Mediterranean tree suited to Perth’s dry summers | Outdoors |
| Ficus | Forgiving and fast-growing; Perth’s mild winters suit it outdoors | Outdoors in a sheltered spot, or a bright indoor position |
| WA natives (such as melaleuca) | Adapted to local heat, sun and dry conditions | Outdoors |
Summer heat and wind: Perth summers bring strong sun, hot easterly winds and many days above 35°C. Give bonsai afternoon shade or 30–50% shade cloth, shelter them from hot winds, keep pots off hot paving, and check water morning and evening. Maples need shade in the hottest months to avoid leaf scorch.
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 |
| Beginner bonsai workshop with a juniper, pot and soil (Two Green Men) | $99 |
| Two-tree beginner workshop (Two Green Men) | $149 |
| Pre-bonsai and ready-made bonsai, specialist nursery | [confirm with nurseries] |
Hardware-store prices are from Bunnings online listings, October 2026. Workshop prices are from Two Green Men’s website. Prices change, so check before you buy. Bunnings stock in WA may differ from other states.
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.
Advice, Classes and Repotting Help
Bonsai Society of Western Australia
Perth’s main bonsai club meets on the last Monday evening of most months, 7pm–9:30pm, at the Collins Street Centre, corner of Collins and Shaftesbury Streets, South Perth.
- Meetings: Themed topics such as literati, forest plantings, layering and grafting. Many meetings include a general workshop and bring-and-buy table.
- Workshops: Weekend afternoon workshops at the Collins Street Centre.
- Education Course: A one-day course for new members, people wanting a refresher and the public, combining morning sessions with an afternoon practical workshop. The 2026 course ran in March at Manning Community Centre.
- Free introduction: The society has given free “Bonsai Basics” talks at the State Library of WA. Tickets are required.
- Gathering About Bonsai (GAB): A weekend mini-seminar for networking and learning, held in August.
- Annual Exhibition: Held in October at the Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.
- Contact: committee@bonsaisocietywa.com
Bonsai Workshop WA
A second Perth bonsai club that meets at the Girl Guides Hall in Doubleview and holds a spring show. Check its website, bonsaiworkshopwa.com, for current meeting times.
Classes and courses
| Provider | Format |
|---|---|
| Two Green Men (North Perth) | Bonsai for Beginners workshop, from $99, tree included |
| Bonsai Society of WA | One-day Education Course each year, plus regular club workshops |
| Bonsai Emporium (West Swan) | Classes; check the current schedule |
| ReWild Perth (Bentley) | Has run introductory bonsai workshops using WA native plants |
Free advice and repotting help
- Bonsai Emporium: free advice sessions on Saturdays, 10am–12pm.
- Club workshops: Members repot and style their own trees with help from experienced growers.
Repot most species in late winter to early spring (about August to October), and tropical figs in warm weather.
Where to see bonsai in Perth
- Bonsai Society of WA Annual Exhibition: October, Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.
- Perth Japan Festival and Perth Garden Show: the society has exhibited at both.
- Bonsai Workshop WA spring show: Doubleview.
Which Perth Bonsai Nursery Suits You?
| If you are… | Try |
|---|---|
| A complete beginner wanting a fun first class | Two Green Men’s Bonsai for Beginners workshop |
| Wanting a structured introduction | The Bonsai Society of WA’s one-day Education Course |
| Wanting a specialist range of trees | Bonsai Emporium, West Swan |
| Worried about a struggling tree | Bonsai Emporium’s free Saturday advice, or a club meeting |
| Buying a gift | A Two Green Men workshop or gift voucher |
| Interested in WA natives | Bonsai Emporium, or a native bonsai workshop |
| Wanting good-value local trees | Club bring-and-buy tables and the October exhibition |
| On a tight budget and keen to experiment | Hardware-store starter stock, plus advice from a club |
Tips for Buying Bonsai in Perth
- Ask for the botanical name. It tells you whether the tree lives indoors or outdoors and how to care for it.
- Choose for Perth’s heat. Junipers, pines, olives, Chinese elm and WA natives handle sun and dry air well. Maples need afternoon shade.
- Buy locally. Western Australia has some of Australia’s strictest plant biosecurity rules, and many interstate sellers can’t post live plants or soil to WA. Perth nurseries and club sales are the simplest option.
- 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy a bonsai tree in Perth?
Bonsai Emporium in West Swan is a long-established specialist bonsai nursery. Two Green Men in North Perth sells bonsai tools and supplies and runs beginner workshops that include a tree. Hardware stores, garden centres and club sales also sell bonsai.
What’s the best bonsai for a beginner in Perth?
A juniper or Chinese elm grown outdoors. Both handle Perth’s heat and sun well. Ficus is a good choice if you want a tree that can also live indoors.
Are there bonsai classes in Perth?
Yes. Two Green Men runs a Bonsai for Beginners workshop from $99, including a tree, pot and soil. The Bonsai Society of WA runs a one-day Education Course each year, and Bonsai Emporium runs classes.
Can I order a bonsai from interstate to Perth?
Often not. Western Australia’s biosecurity rules restrict live plants and soil coming in from other states, and many sellers won’t send them. Check with the seller and the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development before ordering.
Where can I get free bonsai advice in Perth?
Bonsai Emporium runs free advice sessions on Saturday mornings. Bonsai Society of WA meetings are another good place to ask experienced growers.
Related Guides
- Bonsai Tree Care for Beginners
- Bonsai in Australia
- Bonsai Tools and Supplies
- Adelaide Bonsai Buyer’s Guide
- 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 Perth 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]