Fukien Tea Bonsai Tree (Carmona / Ehretia microphylla)
Scientific Name: Ehretia microphylla (also commonly sold as Carmona microphylla or Carmona)
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Best For: Attentive beginners, indoor bonsai growers, and customers who want a flowering bonsai with refined character
Fukien Tea is one of those bonsai trees people fall for quickly. The leaves are tiny, the silhouette can be beautifully refined, and when it blooms, the small white flowers add a level of charm that many indoor bonsai simply do not have. It is elegant, distinctive, and easy to admire.
That said, this is not the easiest tree we sell. Fukien Tea is popular for good reason, but it tends to be a better fit for someone who wants this species specifically and is willing to pay a little closer attention to its care.
Why People Love This Tree
Fukien Tea has a polished, refined look that makes it stand out right away. The tiny leaves, delicate branching, and occasional white flowers give it a softer and more finished appearance than many other indoor bonsai.
It is especially appealing to customers who want something more elegant than a typical starter tree. When healthy, it feels special.
Basic Care
Light: Bright light is very important. Indoors, place it in a bright window with strong light. Fukien Tea needs more light than many people expect.
Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy. Do not allow it to dry out completely, and do not let the tree sit in standing water.
Temperature: This is a warm-climate tropical bonsai and must be protected from frost. A good indoor range is about 60°F to 80°F, and many growers keep it warmer than 64°F to 65°F whenever possible. It should not be exposed to freezing temperatures.
Humidity: Fukien Tea appreciates humidity and can struggle in very dry indoor air, especially during northern winters.
Pruning: This species responds well to pruning and can develop fine branching over time, which is part of what makes it such an attractive bonsai.
Important to Know About Pests
Fukien Tea is popular, but it is also more prone to pest issues than many easier indoor bonsai. Growers commonly watch for scale, aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites, especially indoors. Regular inspection is important.
This is one reason we do not consider it the best northern indoor species, even though customers love it. In dry indoor conditions, especially during winter, it can be more challenging than easier choices like Dwarf Jade or Hawaiian Umbrella. That does not mean you should not buy one. It just means you should go in with clear expectations.
Why Buy This Tree from Bonsai Outlet
Bonsai is all we do. That matters even more with a tree like Fukien Tea. This is not the kind of species that should be treated like a generic houseplant. Buying from a bonsai-focused company gives you better guidance on light, temperature, watering, and what to watch for if the tree starts reacting to indoor conditions.
Why Purchase This Tree
Choose Fukien Tea if you want a bonsai with tiny leaves, elegant branching, and the possibility of delicate white flowers. It has a more refined and decorative feel than many easier indoor trees, which is exactly why it remains so popular.
At the same time, honesty matters: this is not the best northern indoor species for someone who wants the lowest-maintenance option. If you want the beauty of Fukien Tea and are willing to give it the light, warmth, and attention it prefers, it can be a very rewarding bonsai to own.
Recommended Add-Ons
To help your Fukien Tea thrive, we recommend Bonsai Thrive 180 plant food for regular feeding during active growth, a pair of bonsai shears for trimming and shaping, and a humidity tray for indoor growing.
Important Note
These trees are offered as ONLINE-ONLY items. While we may have some of these species at the nursery in Bellingham, these listings are intended for online purchase only. To keep prices more affordable, the trees in this category are not individually photographed. The photos shown are representative, and each tree will vary naturally in shape, branching, and pot. Pot color, size, and shape may differ from the examples shown.
Love the Fukien Tea, but looking for another indoor bonsai? Browse our Bonsai Trees or Indoor Bonsai Tree Selection.
Please Read Before Purchasing
This tree is sold as a representative example of the size and quality shown. Each tree is unique, and natural variation in shape, branching, and pot should be expected. If you have questions about care, placement, or what to expect, please ask before purchasing. We are happy to help.
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.
