The biological explanation for the small size of bonsai trees seems to be that it is environmentally induced plant dwarfism. Stress is caused to the tree and this restricts its growth. It seems that the intense pruning and restricted pot size in bonsai causes the tree, and its leaves, to be much smaller than normal.

How small can a bonsai tree be?

A bonsai tree can grow up to 60-80 inches (152-203 centimeters) or it can be as small as 1-3 inches (3-8 centimeters). There are a wide variety of bonsai sizes. The smallest can be the size of a seed while the largest can require several people to move. You can classify a bonsai tree based on its size.

What are small bonsai called?

Bonsai is known for its small size, but the effort to miniaturize trees is sometimes taken to the extreme. The results are tiny little trees (called Mame Bonsai, or Mini Bonsai).