Japanese Black Pine Pre-Bonsai – Premium Mark Comstock Material (4–5 Years Old)
If you’ve ever wanted to grow a world-class Japanese Black Pine bonsai, this is the material to start with. These trees were grown from cuttings by Mark Comstock, one of the most respected pine growers in North America. We were only able to secure 75 total trees—and once they’re gone, they’re gone.
This listing is for the styled tree you see in the picture. The raw pre-bonsai is an example of how the tree started.
What Makes These Pines So Special?
- Double-cut roots: The taproot has been cut twice, producing incredible 360° nebari potential
- Expertly grown for 4–5 years: Strong trunks, dense roots, and vigorous growth
- Premium provenance: Grown by Mark Comstock exclusively for bonsai development
- Huge styling potential: Twist, bend, chop, or grow on for future masterpieces
Transformation Potential
Most people only see a straight whip and walk away. But take a look at the example below. This exact material was styled by Peter Olson to create a dynamic shohin black pine in just one session. The first image shows the tree as received. The other images shows what’s possible with the right technique. You are purchasing the styled tree.
Not sure how to get from “whip” to “bonsai”? Don’t worry – this material is designed for bending, wiring, chopping, and early trunk development. With the right cuts, you can create:
- Shohin masterpieces (by chopping and regrowing)
- Dramatic movement and taper for future show trees
- Trunk character and branch options in a single season
Tree Specs
- Species: Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii)
- Age: 4–5 years
- Height: approx. 10 inches from soil
- Pot: 6" plastic nursery container
- Soil: Pumice & lava rock Bonsai blend
- Root base: radial nebari already forming from double-cut root technique
Recommended Next Steps
- Spring 2026: Repot into bonsai training pot or continue field growing
- 2026+: Begin branch selection, refinement, and decandling work
These are the same pines used by advanced artists for future exhibition trees. Whether you’re growing for shohin, preparing for the next Nationals, or just want the best possible start, this is the kind of material that separates good bonsai from great bonsai.
Learning Resources and Bonsai Tree Care Guides:
Bonsai trees are not all the same - and neither is their care. Read our specific care sheets for individual bonsai species. Read the Bonsai Care Guides
Shipping Bonsai Trees:
Bonsai trees are generally shipped on Mondays & Tuesdays to avoid having them stay in the boxes for any extra time over the weekends.
Shipping Non-Tree Items
All non-bonsai items such as bonsai pots and bonsai supplies are shipped within 48 hours of receiving payment. Most orders are shipped either the same day or the next day, depending on the time of day the order is received.
Important Guidelines:
** We cannot ship to a FPO, APO, P.O. Box or to locations in Alaska, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hawaii or anywhere internationally.
** All Bonsai are shipped direct from the nursery and may ship separately from other items purchased via the Bonsai Outlet.
** If extreme weather is expected, we may delay shipping your Bonsai tree to guarantee a healthy arrival; in such a case we will contact you. We are shipping living trees and must be conscious of the temperature conditions to the delivery address, as well as, while in transit. That said, we reserve the right to hold the tree(s) to guarantee a healthy delivery. We will Hold Your Tree Until It is Safe to Ship.
