Imperial (60 to 80 Inches, "Eight-hand")
The Imperial "eight hand" size of bonsai trees is one of the largest and most prestigious categories of the Japanese art of miniature tree cultivation. It refers to trees that are between 152 and 203 centimeters (60 to 80 inches) in height, and that require four people to carry them. These trees are often displayed in formal settings, such as palaces, temples, or museums, and represent the power and dignity of the owner. They are also very rare and expensive, as they require decades of careful pruning, wiring, and shaping to achieve the desired aesthetic effect.
This large bald cypress was a demonstration tree for the Bonsai Society of Greater Cincinnati’s 60th anniversary in 2024 and was originally collected in 2023 (yamadori) and styled by Randy Bennett. It is in a clay pot measuring 27”x19.5” and is 9.5” tall.
Bald cypress trees are native North American large deciduous conifers growing up to 120 feet tall and 6 feet in diameter. They are pyramid shape when young with brown or gray fibrous bark. The trunk is rot resistant.