Bonsai Nurseries Sydney: Where to Buy Bonsai Trees (2026)
Sydney has one of Australia’s strongest bonsai scenes. Its mild, warm-temperate climate suits almost every popular species, from figs and Chinese elm to junipers, pines and maples. The city also has long-established specialist nurseries, several active clubs and regular public workshops.
This guide compares Sydney’s bonsai nurseries and teachers. It covers where they are, whether you need an appointment, 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: Many bonsai nurseries are small, owner-run businesses. Hours change, so phone before you make the drive.
Sydney Bonsai Nurseries at a Glance
| Nursery | Area | Visiting | Classes | Services | Delivery | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ray Nesci Bonsai Nursery | Dural (Hills) | Listed open 7 days, 9am–5pm | Ask | Repotting, pruning, wiring, mobile bonsai care | Ask | A huge range and hands-on care services |
| Bonsai Art (Megumi and Alex Bennett) | Belrose (Northern Beaches) | Open 7 days, 9am–5pm | Bonsai and ikebana lessons | Advice; online shop | Online shop | Beginners wanting expert lessons |
| Padre Pio Bonsai Nurseries | Annangrove (Hills) | Contact before visiting | Not advertised | Online shop with price bands | Hand delivery in Sydney; post interstate | Buying online, or a gift delivered |
| Bonsai South Nursery | Caringbah (Sutherland Shire) | Phone ahead | Not advertised | Trees, pots, tools, soil | Ask | Southern Sydney buyers |
| Hardware stores and garden centres | Citywide | Normal retail hours | No | Mixed starter bonsai | Store-dependent | Low-cost starter material |
Delivery and click-and-collect details change. Confirm with the nursery when you order.
Sydney Bonsai Nurseries Compared
Ray Nesci Bonsai Nursery, Dural
One of Sydney’s best-known bonsai nurseries. It has grown bonsai on a five-acre site in Dural since 1979 and developed several of its own cultivars, such as a Nesci form of trident maple.
- Location: 26 Sagars Road, Dural, NSW 2158
- Visiting: Listed as open seven days, 9am–5pm.
- Trees: A very large range of species and sizes, plus pots, tools, soil and accessories. Hobbyists report that prices are competitive and that buying several trees can open room for a better price.
- Services: Free bonsai advice, plus repotting, pruning, wiring, fertilising, watering and mobile bonsai services. Free estimates.
- Collection and delivery: Collect from the nursery; ask about delivery for larger trees.
- Best for: Buyers who want a huge range to choose from, and owners who need repotting or care done for them.
- Contact: (02) 9654 1893 · raynescibonsai.com.au
Bonsai Art (Megumi and Alex Bennett), Belrose
Run by Tokyo-born bonsai and ikebana teacher Megumi Bennett and Alex Bennett, inside Hidden Orient Nursery on the Northern Beaches.
- Location: Hidden Orient Nursery, 206–208 Forest Way, Belrose, NSW 2085. Turn into Crozier Road at the Forest Way traffic lights for parking.
- Visiting: Open seven days, 9am–5pm.
- Trees: A wide variety, mostly small to medium trees with good trunks, plus pots.
- Classes: Bonsai and ikebana lessons at the nursery. Megumi Bennett also teaches public workshops, such as a two-hour Garden Clinic bonsai class at Belrose ($85 in May 2026) and a three-hour workshop at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney ($195, August 2026).
- Collection and delivery: Online shop available; ask about delivery for trees.
- Best for: Beginners who want to learn from a highly experienced teacher, and Northern Beaches buyers.
- Contact: 0423 763 506 · megumibennettbonsai.com
Padre Pio Bonsai Nurseries, Annangrove
A Hills District nursery about 45 minutes from the city, with a large online shop.
- Location: Annangrove, NSW (find it on Google Maps)
- Visiting: Opening hours aren’t listed online, so contact before visiting.
- Trees: Starter and advanced bonsai, including figs, junipers, deciduous and evergreen trees, Australian natives, flowering species such as serissa, azalea and bougainvillea, and fruiting trees such as lilly pilly and persimmon. Online stock is sorted into price bands from under $100 to over $500.
- Collection and delivery: Hand delivery within Sydney. Small to medium bonsai can be posted to regional areas and interstate; larger trees by email enquiry.
- Best for: Buyers who prefer to shop online, and anyone sending a bonsai as a gift.
- Contact: padrepiobonsai.com.au
Bonsai South Nursery, Caringbah
A long-running nursery in the Sutherland Shire.
- Location: 114–116 The Boulevarde, Caringbah, NSW
- Visiting: Phone ahead to check opening times.
- Trees: Hobbyists describe a good variety of well-maintained trees in all sizes, plus pots, tools and soil, at reasonable prices.
- Best for: Buyers in southern Sydney and the Shire.
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.
Worth a day trip
Penjing at Robertson, a garden centre and bonsai nursery in the Southern Highlands, is a popular outing for Sydney bonsai enthusiasts. Check opening hours before you go.
Beginner-Friendly Trees and Indicative Prices
The best beginner trees for Sydney
| Tree | Why it suits Sydney | Indoors or outdoors |
|---|---|---|
| Fig (Ficus microcarpa, Port Jackson fig) | Forgiving and fast-growing; Port Jackson fig is a Sydney native | Outdoors in a sheltered spot; ficus also suits a bright indoor position |
| Chinese elm | Tough, quick to respond to pruning | Outdoors |
| Juniper | Thrives in Sydney’s sun and coastal conditions | Outdoors only |
| Trident maple | Hardy, colours in autumn, develops thick trunks | Outdoors, with afternoon shade in summer |
| Dwarf jade (Portulacaria afra) | Drought-tolerant succulent | Sunny window or outdoors |
In frost-prone parts of western Sydney, shelter figs and other tropical species on cold winter nights.
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 |
| Online starter bonsai, specialist nursery | from under $100 (Padre Pio price bands) |
| Advanced or larger bonsai, specialist nursery | $100 to over $500 (Padre Pio price bands) |
| Two-hour beginner bonsai class | $85 (Garden Clinic class at Bonsai Art, May 2026) |
| Three-hour bonsai workshop | $195 (Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, August 2026) |
| Pre-bonsai at other specialist nurseries | [confirm with nurseries] |
Hardware-store prices are from Bunnings online listings, October 2026. Class prices are from 2026 event listings. 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.
Advice, Classes and Repotting Help
Sydney bonsai clubs
Joining a club is the cheapest way to learn, get help repotting your own trees and buy good local stock at club sales.
| Club | Meets at | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Bonsai Society of Sydney | Forest Community Arts Centre, 6 Darley Street, Forestville | Northern Beaches and North Shore |
| Bonsai Society of Australia | West Pennant Hills Community Centre, 42 Hill Road, West Pennant Hills | Hills District |
| Sydney City Bonsai Club | Tote Building, 100 Joynton Avenue, Zetland | Inner city and eastern suburbs |
| Nepean Bonsai Society | 18 Simeon Road, Orchard Hills | Western Sydney and Penrith |
| Illawarra Bonsai Society | Gymea Community Centre, Gymea Bay Road, Gymea | Sutherland Shire |
- Bonsai Society of Sydney: meets on the fourth Saturday of each month from February to November at 1pm. It runs guest speakers, workshops and demonstrations, with a new topic each month. Its annual exhibition is held in August, with trees and pots for sale.
- Sydney City Bonsai Club: offers basic bonsai training. Check the club website for current dates.
- Illawarra Bonsai Society: held its 2026 annual show at Tradies Gymea in May.
Check each club’s website for current meeting days before you go.
Public workshops
Megumi Bennett runs public bonsai workshops through Garden Clinic and the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. The Japan Foundation in Sydney has also hosted bonsai events. These are good options if you’d like a single class before you commit to a club.
Paid repotting, styling and care
- Ray Nesci Bonsai Nursery (Dural): repotting, pruning, wiring, fertilising, watering and mobile bonsai services.
- Bonsai Art (Belrose): advice and lessons on caring for your own tree.
Repot most species in late winter to early spring (about August to October), and tropical figs from late spring to early autumn. Book care services ahead in those months.
Where to see bonsai in Sydney
- Club exhibitions: The Bonsai Society of Sydney’s August exhibition at Forestville and the Illawarra Bonsai Society show at Gymea.
- Penjing exhibitions: The Chinese Garden of Friendship at Darling Harbour has hosted penjing (Chinese bonsai) exhibitions.
- National convention: The Association of Australian Bonsai Clubs has listed its 39th National Bonsai Convention for Liverpool Catholic Club. Check its website for confirmed dates.
Which Sydney Bonsai Nursery Suits You?
| If you are… | Try |
|---|---|
| A complete beginner wanting expert lessons | Bonsai Art, Belrose, or a Megumi Bennett public workshop |
| Wanting the biggest range to choose from | Ray Nesci Bonsai Nursery, Dural |
| Needing a tree repotted or cared for | Ray Nesci Bonsai Nursery (repotting and mobile services) |
| Shopping online, or sending a gift | Padre Pio Bonsai Nurseries (Sydney hand delivery; interstate post) |
| In the Sutherland Shire or southern Sydney | Bonsai South Nursery, Caringbah, plus the Illawarra Bonsai Society |
| On the Northern Beaches or North Shore | Bonsai Art, Belrose, plus the Bonsai Society of Sydney |
| In western Sydney | Nepean Bonsai Society, and Ray Nesci in Dural |
| On a tight budget and keen to experiment | Hardware-store starter stock, plus free advice from a club |
Tips for Buying Bonsai in Sydney
- Ask for the botanical name. It tells you whether the tree lives indoors or outdoors and how to care for it.
- Match the tree to where you’ll keep it. Most traditional species, including juniper, pine and maple, are outdoor trees. Figs are the safest choice for indoors.
- 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 from Queensland: Potted plants coming from South East Queensland’s fire ant biosecurity zones must meet NSW entry requirements, so check with the seller before ordering interstate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy a bonsai tree in Sydney?
Specialist nurseries include Ray Nesci Bonsai Nursery at Dural, Bonsai Art at Belrose, Padre Pio Bonsai Nurseries at Annangrove (with an online shop and Sydney delivery) and Bonsai South Nursery at Caringbah. Hardware stores and garden centres also sell starter bonsai.
What’s the best bonsai for a beginner in Sydney?
A fig or a Chinese elm. Both are forgiving and grow quickly in Sydney’s climate. If you want an outdoor conifer, juniper does well in full sun.
Are there bonsai classes in Sydney?
Yes. Bonsai Art at Belrose runs bonsai and ikebana lessons, and Megumi Bennett teaches public workshops through Garden Clinic and the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Clubs such as the Bonsai Society of Sydney and Sydney City Bonsai Club also run workshops and training.
Can I get my bonsai repotted in Sydney?
Yes. Ray Nesci Bonsai Nursery offers repotting, pruning, wiring and mobile bonsai services. Clubs also hold workshops where members repot their own trees with help.
Can I order a bonsai online in Sydney?
Padre Pio Bonsai Nurseries hand-delivers within Sydney and posts small to medium trees interstate. Bonsai Art also has an online shop.
Related Guides
- Bonsai Tree Care for Beginners
- Bonsai in Australia
- Bonsai Tools and Supplies
- 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 Sydney 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].