National Bonsai & Penjing Museum
National Bonsai & Penjing Museum Renovations
Soon, the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum will be an even more beautiful home for the nation’s premiere public bonsai and penjing collections!
Starting in mid-August, 2026, and continuing into early October, 2026, the museum will be undergoing minor renovations. Although areas of the museum will be closed to the public, all of the trees will remain on display throughout the renovation period. Please follow all posted signage when visiting the museum.
This work is made possible by the National Arboretum’s primary nonprofit partner, the Friends of the National Arboretum.
About the Collection
The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum contains miniature masterpieces of horticultural art. The Chinese art of penjing and the Japanese art of bonsai use woody plants in containers as a medium to portray the natural growth habit of trees in the landscape. The living sculptures of bonsai and penjing are inspired by natural scenes, and they change with the seasons like their wild relatives. They require continual care and training to maintain their artistic designs. In addition to water and fertilization, the bonsai are pruned and their branches are shaped using wire to give the impression of ancient trees.
The museum’s collection began in 1976 with a gift of 53 bonsai trees from Japan to commemorate the United States Bicentennial. The collection has grown steadily with the addition of pieces from North American bonsai masters and a penjing collection from China. Now, more than 300 specimens rotate through the display tables and pedestals of three pavilions and a special exhibits gallery.
The bonsai intermix with companion art forms of viewing stones, herbaceous companion plants (kusamono), and Japanese flower arrangements (ikebana). The museum’s gardens are more than a beautiful backdrop to the bonsai; they are designed to prime the viewer for a calming experience surrounded by the finest selections of flowers and foliage. Visit often to see the bonsai and gardens change through the seasons.
TIPS FOR VISITORS
The museum’s hours are shorter than those of the arboretum: It is open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The museum is closed for federal holidays during the months of November through February.