Fukien Tea Bonsai
Carmona microphylla / Ehretia microphylla
Bonsai Trees Difficulty: Moderate
📖 About this plant
A tropical bonsai prized for its tiny dark green glossy leaves, beautiful dark brown bark that develops fissures with age, and small white flowers followed by round green-to-black berries. It can bloom sporadically throughout the year. Fukien tea requires warm conditions and does best indoors with good light. The contrast between dark bark and bright green foliage is stunning.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
☀️
Light
Bright indirect (4-6 hrs)
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Water
Every 2-3 days
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Humidity
High (50-70%)
🌡️
Temperature
18-30°C
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Soil
Well-draining bonsai soil mix with good moisture retention; slightly acidic preferred; pH 5.5-6.5
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Fertilizer
Liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks during growing season; monthly in winter; balanced formula
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Philippines
- 📏 Max height
- 15-30 cm (bonsai form)
- 📐 Spread
- 15-30 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Year-round
- 🎨 Bloom color
- White
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Dark Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Slow
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic to humans and pets
- 🌱 Propagation
- Semi-hardwood cuttings in summer with rooting hormone; air layering in spring; can be slow to root
🛡️ Health & Safety
🐾 Pet safe
✅ Non-toxic
Non-toxic to humans and pets
Common issues
- Sudden leaf drop from cold drafts or inconsistent watering, Scale insects on branches and bark, Spider mites in dry conditions, Iron deficiency causing chlorosis, Slow recovery from severe pruning
💡 Care tips
- Produces tiny white flowers and small round green berries,Thick dark trunk develops naturally with age creating character,Keep soil consistently moist as it dislikes drying out completely,Warm-loving species that should not be exposed to temperatures below 15°C
🪴 Add to My Plants
One click — added instantly. Watering every 3 days, fertilizing every 14 days.
