This is my attempt at a list of acceptable species to be used for bonsai. It is by no means a complete list of varieties you could use, but something I have tried to put together through all the research I have available to me. One of the best ways to find species that work in your area is to visit a local nursery.
As I gather more and more information, this list will be updated. It contains tree and shrub species that have leaves that are small enough for bonsai(or can be reduced) and are acceptable in zone 8. In zone 8, you mostly have to look for trees or shrubs that can survive the heat and mild winters, instead of worrying about the cold in those zones above zone 8. I’ve also tried to filter out those that may not have a long life-span or are weak-wooded. 90% of these trees will be fine in zone 7. Few will be ok in zone 9 because of the extremely short winter not allowing the tree enough dormancy.
Acer Barbatum — Florida Maple
Acer buergerianum — Trident Maple
Acer campestre — Hedge or Field Maple
Acer palmatum — Japanese Maple *
Acer rubrum — Red Maple
Berberis — Barberry *
Betula nigra — River Birch
Buxus — Boxwood
Camellia — Camellia
Carpinus caroliniana — American Hornbeam
Cedrus atlantica — Atlas Cedar
Chaenomeles — Flowering Quince
Chamaecyparis — Falsecypress (Hinoki, Japanese, Whitecedar)
Cryptomeria japonica — Japanese Cedar
Euonymus — Winged Euonymus
Fagus grandifolia — American beech
Gardenia — Gardenia
Ginkgo biloba — Ginkgo
Hibiscus syriacus — Hibiscus
Ilex — Holly
Jasminum nudiflorum — Winter Jasmine
Juniperus chinensis — Chinese Juniper, Shimpaku
Juniperus procumbens — Japanese Garden Juniper
Juniperus virginiana — Eastern Red Cedar
Ligustrum sinense — Chinese Privet
Liquidambar styraciflua — Sweetgum
Lonicera nitida — Boxleaf Honeysuckle
Loropetalum chinense — Chinese Fringe-flower
Magnolia stellata — Star Magnolia
Lagerstroemia indica — Crapemyrtle
Metasequoia glyptostroboides — Dawn Redwood
Nandina domestica — Nandina, Heavenly Bamboo
Parthenocissus — Boston Ivy
Pinus thunbergii — Japanese Black Pine
Pinus virginiana — Virginia Pine
Pittosporum — Pittosporum
Podocarpus — Podocarpus
Prunus mume — Japanese Flowering Apricot
Punica granatum — Pomegranate
Pyracantha — Firethorn
Rhaphiolepis indica — Indian Hawthorn
Rhododendron indicum — Satsuki Azalea
Rhododendron obtusum amoenum — Kurume Azalea
Serissa foetida — Japanese Boxthorn
Taxodium ascendens — Pond Cypress
Taxodium distichum — Bald Cypress
Ulmus alata — Winged Elm
Ulmus crassifolia — Cedar Elm
Ulmus parvifolia — Chinese Elm
Wisteria floribunda — Japanese Wisteria
Wisteria sinensis — Chinese Wisteria
Zelkova serrata — Japanese Elm
* May need to be protected from full sun or extreme heat.
