Which bonsai to give?
Giving a tree means giving patience. You still have to pick the species that suits the person.
Le Sens du Bonsaï
A bonsai is a singular gift: it grows with the relationship. But a tree given to someone who will not know how to care for it is a gift that dies. The first criterion is therefore the person's level.
To begin with
Ficus retusa takes a wide range of light levels and forgives a missed watering. The Chinese elm, sturdy and adaptable, is the other safe bet.
For an experienced enthusiast
Japanese maple for its seasonal colours, juniper for its longevity, crab apple for its flowers and small fruit.
For a devotee
A yamadori, a tree collected from the wild with permission: Scots pine with plated bark, savin juniper with natural deadwood, oak from our own forests.
Give the tree along with a drained pot, a substrate, a pair of scissors, a little wire and a fine-spouted watering can: the gift becomes a practice.