Pots

For ‘feminine’ think delicate, curving, willowy flowing therefore trees with smooth bark lots of curves, sparse light branches and a gentle taper.

The main problem is most bonsai do not fall so neatly into obvious categories, they probably have some masculine as well as some feminine characteristics and your problem is to decide which is the strongest side before making your choice of pot.

Try to make the design of the pot match the larger or more obvious degree of masculinity or femininity of the tree. The nearer you get, the more harmonious your final bonsai and pot will appear. Should it be concave, convex, angular, round, oval or rectangular? Generally masculine pots are deep, angular, have clean lines and stout feet. A lip on the rim strengthens the masculinity; an inward rhyme reinforces the pot’s femininity. Feminine pots often have soft lines, delicate feet and are relatively low and sleek. Round pots and drum pots are generally considered to be asexual.

A strong powerful thick trunked, heavily tapered Japanese maple such as a trident with delicate leaves and branches could be considered to be a feminine species with masculine features.

A tall willowy hawthorn with craggy, rough bark, gentle curves and a very gradual taper could be considered a masculine species with feminine characteristics.

With trees such as these it is necessary to identify which is the strongest feature and reflect it in your choice of pot. It is your decision to decide which characterises the craggy, fissured bark of the hawthorn or the gentle curves of the trunk that have the strongest visual impact. Is it the delicate branching of the maple or the powerful tapered trunk that attracts your eye most?