Are Bonsai Trees Good Luck? (Which Ones?)

How great would it be if a plant could give you luck?

Well, some kinds of bonsai trees are more closely associated with good luck than others. 

However, bear in mind that luck is about belief more than any provable scientific benefits, and a lucky tree is only as lucky as you believe it to be.

Some people do believe that bonsai trees are good luck, especially if someone buys you one as a gift. 

But, they are more traditionally associated with peace, harmony, and balance rather than luck.

In this article, we will discuss which trees are lucky as well as more common symbols of bonsai trees. 

Are Bonsai Trees Good Luck?

Not everyone associates bonsai trees with good luck, but some people do.

Generally, these trees symbolize things like balance because a grower has to walk a delicate line to keep them alive and thriving.

However, some people who follow Feng Shui believe that a bonsai tree can also be lucky, especially if it is the right kind of bonsai tree.

Yet, most people do not connect bonsai trees with luck and good fortune. 

But, there are some tentative associations between luck and some specific kinds of bonsai trees.

Which Bonsai Trees Are Good Luck?

Some bonsai trees are more closely associated with good luck than others, which may not surprise you.

For example, some people say the money tree is a particularly lucky bonsai. 

Though, this may be because money trees are traditionally linked with good fortune anyway.

Bonsai citrus trees may also bring good luck. 

So, if you want, you can grow a miniature orange tree or a tiny lemon tree in your home, and it may bring you good fortune.

Additionally, some individuals say jade bonsai trees can represent good fortune, although this association is less common.

Also, in some cultures, other bonsai trees may have connections with luck, but these are the three commonest specimens branded as lucky.

Can Bonsai Trees Be Bad Luck?

You might be surprised to learn that some people think bonsai trees are bad luck.

Some believe the trees represent stagnation or just slow growth. 

So, they believe that bringing one into the home can prevent personal development and happiness.

People who follow this belief may choose to keep a bonsai tree in the garden instead of bringing it into the house to limit its negative influence.

Other individuals prefer not to have a bonsai at all, in case it can exert this negative influence even when kept outdoors.

In some situations, therefore, people associate bonsais with misfortune, or at least with negative energy and stagnation.

On the whole, however, most people do not hold this belief about bonsai trees. 

What Are the Most Common Bonsai Tree Associations?

Bonsai trees have many different associations, both as a group and as individual trees.

Perhaps because they are such an ancient tradition and now so widespread, people sometimes link bonsais with a whole range of (generally positive) concepts, including:

• Harmony
• Balance
• Simplicity
• Peace
• Wealth
• Age

However, individual bonsai trees all have their own associations too. 

Thus, if you are looking to bring changes and new energy to your home, you may wish to consider what each plant means.

What Do the Different Bonsai Tree Species Symbolize?

For the most part, the symbols attached to bonsai species come from the traditional ideas about their full-sized counterparts. 

Below are some common bonsais and what they represent. 

Juniper Bonsai 

The Juniper bonsai is a symbol of strength, power, and protection, and it can ward off evil. 

Many also associate it with healing and purification.

Chinese Elm Bonsai 

The Chinese elm suggests love, wisdom, inner strength, and intuition. 

It is also a good omen.

Boxwood Bonsai 

Boxwood bonsai trees represent immortality. 

Cherry Bonsai 

Cherry bonsai is sort of the opposite of boxwood. 

Cherry is a symbol of mortality as well as renewal and fertility.

Ficus Bonsai 

Ficus bonsai trees are particularly popular because they grow well indoors and represent abundance, new beginnings, and unity.

A ficus in the home is supposed to express positivity and understanding and may help ease family tensions in some situations.

Japanese Maple

The Japanese maple, another highly popular bonsai, symbolizes beauty, which is unsurprising given its stunning foliage.

Traditionally, people also associate it with peace and serenity. 

Or it can represent practicality and balance.

Oak Bonsai 

An oak bonsai signifies both power and longevity, possibly due to its robust and wide trunk.

Meanwhile, some people connect oak trees with eternal life.

Cedar Bonsai 

Cedar trees are also a sign of immortality, just like oak. 

But, some individuals choose them to represent generosity, protection, or strength due to the size and longevity the trees achieve in their natural habitats.

Azalea Bonsai 

An azalea bonsai is a good choice if you want to evoke femininity and abundance.

These beautiful trees, which produce bright flowers when cared for well, represent love. 

Yet, many people also connect them with intelligence, beauty, or wealth of any kind.

Should I Get a Bonsai Tree for Good Luck?

Overall, bonsais could bring good luck. 

But, your best chance of gaining luck from the tree is if someone gifts one to you, instead of buying a tree yourself. 

Yet, if you do buy a bonsai that represents luck, make sure you can look after it well so it will flourish and bring more good fortune.

An unhappy bonsai tree is unlikely to make you lucky. 

Therefore, good care is crucial.

And finally, remember that what matters is what you associate the tree with and how it makes you feel, rather than simply what it represents to others.

Conclusion

Traditionally, most people associate bonsais with harmony, balance, and peace rather than luck. 

However, if you feel one might bring you good fortune, consider getting one for your home anyway. 

A good choice to bring yourself more luck is to get a bonsai that has lucky associations – such as the money tree.