Pinus is a genus of approximately 120 species of monoecious, evergreen, coniferous trees or shrubs, widely distributed throughout the world particularly occurring in mountainous and arid conditions where they are able to thrive. Pines are a classic bonsai species in Japan and the world over, they are not however, easy trees to care for and style without experience. Pines have their own growth patterns that differ greatly from deciduous and common coniferous species; these growth patterns need to be understood before successful styling and pruning can be carried out. Pines are not only used for bonsai in Japan, they are also very often seen cloud-pruned in Japanese gardens. Pinus parviflora is a conical or columnar tree, often with a spreading crown native to Japan. The 2-6 cm long leaves are a deep-green colour with whitish blue inner sides, giving rise to the name, the White Pine.