We’ve showcased some pretty impressive photos of bonsai here recently, but this new batch takes the tiny proverbial cake. You probably know that bonsai is the traditional art form of sculpting miniature trees in pots, but these photos raise the question, “Just how miniature can you get?”

According to one bonsai blog, there has been a trend in recent years of raising tiny bonsai less than 3cm in height called cho-mini bonsai, or ultra-small bonsai. In cramped Japan, these tiny plants mean anyone can find a spot for a little greenery and the internet is responding to demand with correspondingly tiny pots, gardening gear and display shelves.

▼ Just the tiny pots are almost too cute to handle!

Naturally, at this size, some of the traditionally used species are not appropriate, but a whole range of others seems well-suited to life in a thimble, including simple garden weeds.

▼These were grown from plants found around the artist’s house.

▼ Even a humble dandelion makes for good bonsai

Even vegetables are getting in on the act. This artist created a tiny daikon radish, smaller than a 10 yen coin.

▼ For reference, this is how big daikon usually are

Some of the best examples make use of traditional species though. Really, how do they get a seed that should become a huge tree to instead be barely a speck of a sprout?

▼ A prickly ash coaxed not only into a tiny size but also into a twist!

▼A mini maple

Whatever plant they are using, there’s no denying these itty-bitty bonsai are super cute!

Source: Naver Matome

Images: Naver Matome, Kokein no Tsubo (prickly ash, maple), The Tokyo Foundation (daikon)