I have been to several bonsai nurseries and this one had something even more special to it! Gary was incredibly Knowledgable and patient and I am so grateful for his time and wisdom and my first bonsai tree. read more

Amazing Bonzai expert highly recommend! Call and make an appointment before hand which is required but definitely well worth it!

Best place to go for QUALITY bonsai trees. There are several rows of bonsai trees. Any style you can think of. Any size too. Gary is the owner I believe. He is honest and nice. He's the one who works his magic on all these trees. And, you can tell he enjoys what he does. To him, these trees are living things. (Which they are). The prices are good. It varies. There are some for $15.. but others for $35.. or $55. We asked him what the difference was in prices and he told us it depends on how much time he spent on the tree. Sadly, we left the place empty handed. Bonsai trees are meant to be outdoors. Parking: There's street parking. read more

Chikugo-En - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - Gardena, California

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Gary Ishii is a 2nd generation bonsai artist and one of the top practitioners in Southern California. I have been coming to the nursery, on and off, for 25 years, and met his father, who was a giant among the California bonsai community. You will find top-quality material here, but be aware that this is a family business and they can sometimes close for events, or for shows and exhibitions. I would recommend calling ahead. That said, I cannot recommend their nursery enough. If you have the opportunity to take a class here, do so! read more

Very nice place they have lots of Beautiful bonsai trees and Gary was super friendly and knowledgeable, he left my tree looking much better!!! read more

This place was pretty inconvenient. I came here looking for pots for bonsai but when I was at the front gate the place seemed closed. I called and they explained they were open but they only did curbside pick up? It was weird that that was how they were operating because COVID-19 wise, it post-lockdown and everything is open, including restaurants. I proceeded to ask if were possible to take a look at their inventory because I needed to see if the products they had were what I needed for my bonsai but they kept asking details of my bonsai so they could instead bring random assortments of stuff to the front gate. It was more of a hassle then anything. I am not sure if they are a good place but they definitely did not do themselves any favors. read more

Chikugo-En has the highest quality coniferous bonsai in the area. The selection of junipers is varied from pre-bonsai to full museum quality works. From the moment I walked in, Gary (the owner) was there to provide helpful insight into the various types of bonsai and to offer advice on styling / caring for each tree. He is a true master of the art, and it shows in the quality of his products. Unlike other larger nurseries I've been to, Gary takes time to personally work on every plant he sells. If you're new to bonsai, Gary does offer workshops every other Thursday 8am - 12pm. He also offers a Sunday workshop, but that has been booked for years due to the sheer amount of bonsai enthusiasts who come to seek his advice. Inside the main shop, he also has many of the tools and supplies you need. He carries soil components (Kanuma / Akadama / pumice / lava rock), fertilizers, yoshiaki bonsai tools, pots, and all sorts of good stuff. For the more advanced bonsai enthusiast, Gary has bonsai stock at all stages of development. Of particular note are his shimpaku juniper (seamlessly grafted with stronger roots) and procumbens nana juniper. He's put a lot of work into styling and developing specific bonsai with elegant trunklines and branch structures. Walter Pall once called this "one of the best nurseries I have ever had the pleasure to visit" [see Walter's Travelogues Dec 9 2009). That should tell you all you really need to know. In short, if you want quality, come see Gary. Some things to know: 1) Parking is limited. You can either park at one of the few spaces in front of the entrance or on the street. 2) Cash only. read more

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Gary is awesome. He worked with me through his gate and helped me select the perfect Mediterranean olive tree for my current Bonsai project. The prices are reasonable and the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. I highly recommend this Bonsai nursery as they are true to the form. read more

For the best Bonsai, I would encourage you to buy from Chikugo. Gary Ishii is the best. His knowledge of the Art of Bonsai and his true love for the plants are unmatched. From the special soil to the treated pure water, the Bonsai are premier. read more

Chikugo-En - 20 yr old Bonsai - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me - Gardena, California

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Came around 1130am on a Saturday. Yelp said it was open but the gate was closed and it didn't look like it was open. ‍

Yelp showed that they were open. I stopped by and spoke with the owner. She told me that they are having a private workshop and I could not come in. Was not apologetic or sympathetic at all. read more

Amazing nursery. Gary and Team are so knowledgeable about bonsai and the nicest people. Right now it's curbside pick up during COVID. So call ahead and share that you're looking for something and they'll provide a great selection. read more

Great place for bonsai newcomers or masters. Highly recommend. Very nice trees and very nice people

Great place for traditional Bonsai. Gary is awesome and is willing to go out of his way to explain the art and tradition. I will definitely be back to purchase a tree next time I'm in the area! read more

I took my uncle here to buy some bonsai materials from Gary. I don't know a lot about bonsai, but there were some really beautifully trained trees there. My uncle ended up purchasing two small trees that will be good material to work with. Gary was very helpful and can walk you through styling your trees and selection of material. Chikugo-En is a very small nursery and it's easy to miss as you're driving down the street. If you're into bonsai or thinking about getting into bonsai, Chikugo-En should definitely be on your list of places to visit. read more

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Gary is simply the best person around at traditional bonsai. The place is easy to miss, but the quality of what's inside is fantastic. Good for buying high-end trees, tools, and supplies, like akadama. Everyone I've encountered in the shop has been really nice too. read more

Garys the best, came here for my first bonsai and he took his time to explain all the ins and outs of bonsai. I've come back like 4 more times and he always takes his time to give me his advice. Highly recommend this nursery! read more

This place is wonderful. Gary is a master of bonsai and is willing to spend time with his patrons to help you get the perfect bonsai project for you. Many world renowned bonsai masters come visit Gary here. It's cash only and bonsai is not cheap but Gary will give you a fair price. Enjoy this very special place. read more

I have been to bonsai nurseries all over Los Angeles county. Today I stopped by here for the first time. This place has a great variety and selection in true bonsai living art. More importantly I found Gary to be one of the nicest, friendliest and most down to earth experts I have come across in the bonsai world. Very highly recommend a visit. read more

Gary is a humble master of his craft. I've been to many bonsai nurseries all over the west coast, where I often find maybe 1-5 pieces that have clearly been tended to for decades. His nursery is full of beautiful pieces like this. read more

Great selection of black and red pines. All grown from seedlings by the owner Gary. Gary is very nice and knowledgeable. He really took the time to show me his trees and explain. read more

Beautifully crafted bonsai trees. They are museum quality and expensive. I just need to find "the One" for my home.

Gorgeous bonsai. Bought one for my dad for Christmas! Can't wait to see his face when he gets it!!

Took my cousin here since he was looking to get into bonsai. We had a wonderful experience talking to Gary and learning about the various types of bonsai and how to care for them. Ended up walking away with a small semi-cascading juniper. Would definitely come back even if just to chat with Gary. read more

This place is great! They have tons of bonsai trees to choose from and Gary is very nice, patient, and knowledgeable.

My favorite bonsai nursery. Great conifers and awesome juniper grafts. Gary is super nice and really helpful from beginner to advanced. Love being greeted by the shops Akita. Been coming here for 3 years and would recommend anyone into bonsai in Los Angeles to check this nursery out. read more

This place is a gem... great selections and fair prices. It's family owned and Gary (the owner and does all the bonsai's in the nursery) is so helpful and sweet. You can tell that he takes pride in each and every one of his trees, big and small. Prices are based on the age of the tree and how much work he's put in it. I have bought 3 small starter bonsai's from this place already that I'm hoping I can nurture and turn into amazing Bonsai's someday and I'm sure I will be back for more. They also have pots, tools and soil. Just a great place with great owners. read more