Practical Tools for Choosing a Pot

By Grégory DelattrePublished on 9 December 2025Updated on 15 April 2026

Exploring Pot Selection — Practical Tools

These tools are designed as aids to reflection. They do not replace observation, intuition, or the pleasure of choosing.

Their goal is simple: to translate the principles discussed in the guide into concrete reference points, helping you explore different paths without ever imposing them.

Estimating Size

Pot size is often the first question that comes to mind. This tool provides an indicative range based on a simple principle discussed in the guide: the proportion between the tree and its container.

It is a visual reference intended to avoid obvious disproportions — not an absolute rule.

Calculator — Pot / Tree Ratio

cm

Measure the maximum width of the composition (including foliage).

cm

Measure from the surface of the substrate to the highest point (entire foliage for cascades).

Indicative result (±10%). The final choice also depends on shape, style, and intention.

Exploring colors

Choosing the color of a pot depends on many factors: foliage, flowers or fruit, the season, and also the intention behind the composition.

This is why I develop a very wide range of glazes, to offer possible combinations between the pot’s color and the tree—whether you want to create contrast, neutrality, or harmony.

How to read this chart

Each row corresponds to a dominant characteristic of the tree (foliage, flower, or fruit color). Each column suggests possible pot colors, organized according to the intended effect.

For a single tree, several rows may therefore be relevant: the final choice always results from an overall balance, where color is only one factor among others.
This tool is not meant to tell you which pot to choose, but to help you understand where to look—and why certain combinations tend to work better than others.
In bonsai as in pottery, there is no single correct answer: the most appropriate choice is often the one that remains consistent with your intention and personal sensitivity.

The colored dots indicate how relevant each option is:
🟢 Recommended — common and visually clear choice
🟠 Possible — works in certain contexts
🔴 Rare / delicate — best reserved for specific cases
Contrast  infoContrast aims to create a clear visual opposition between the tree and the pot. It can be chromatic (color), tonal (light / dark), or thermal (warm / cool).
Neutrality  infoNeutrality seeks to make the pot visually discreet. The tree becomes the focal point, while the pot deliberately fades into the background.
Harmony  infoHarmony relies on continuity of color, value, or atmosphere. The pot supports the tree without seeking to stand out.
Foliage  infoFor autumn foliage, the suggestions apply mainly to seasonal or exhibition displays.
Feuillage vert
Bright red creates a very strong contrast. Best reserved for Mame or highly graphic compositions. Rarely suitable for standard-sized trees.
The contrast comes from depth and warmth without competing with light foliage. A common and reliable choice.
Light-value neutrality. The pot fades away and enhances the freshness of light green foliage.
Works well if the tree already has strong presence (trunk, branching).
Darker neutrality, best used on already well-structured trees.
Celadon glaze. Harmony through color continuity. Reserved for mature trees, otherwise the glaze draws too much attention.
Turquoise creates a fresh harmony with light green foliage. It adds brightness without repeating the green.
Beige tones are a very safe alternative to green glazes, especially when aiming for sobriety.
Feuillage vert
This palette of very dark browns creates contrast through depth. With dark green foliage, the contrast remains readable without overpowering the tree.
Bright red creates an overly direct contrast with dark green foliage. Rarely used on standard-sized trees.
A palette of medium to dark greys provides neutrality through depth. The pot recedes without weakening the tree’s presence.
This rich beige maintains warm neutrality. It balances dark green foliage mass without drawing attention.
This palette of warm browns creates a natural harmony with dark green foliage. A common choice for mature-looking trees.
This very dark, desaturated green creates harmony through color continuity. It remains discreet and suits well-balanced trees.
This celadon green brings a colored harmony. With dark green foliage, it requires a strong form and clear maturity.
This very dark blue-green tone creates a cool harmony with dark green foliage. A rarer choice, reserved for sober and highly controlled compositions.
A deep turquoise brings a cool breathing space against dense foliage. Best reserved for well-constructed trees.
Feuillage jaune
This range of deep blues (ultramarine to indigo) creates a cool, highly readable contrast with yellow autumn foliage. A strong contrast often used in exhibitions.
Dark purple creates a strong chromatic contrast with yellow. Best reserved for Mame or very controlled compositions.
This palette of cream and warm beige tones provides luminous neutrality. It highlights yellow foliage without creating contrast.
Light, warm greys offer a mineral neutrality. Yellow foliage remains the dominant element of the composition.
White creates very luminous neutrality against yellow foliage. Use with caution when the yellow is very vivid.
Ochre tones naturally extend yellow autumn foliage. A warm harmony, very readable in seasonal displays.
Honey tones create a warm and luminous harmony with yellow foliage. Often used to reinforce an autumn atmosphere.
Mustard tones create chromatic harmony with yellow. Use in low saturation to avoid a decorative effect.
Feuillage rouge
Deep greens (bottle green) create a clear contrast with red foliage. A classic, readable, and durable contrast.
This turquoise creates a cool contrast with red foliage leaning toward orange. The contrast is based on temperature and remains softer.
Deep blues are often paired with red foliage. The contrast is more cultural than optical and can sometimes feel heavy.
White creates a strong light-value contrast with dark red foliage. A clear and elegant solution when the red is dense.
These cream and warm beige tones provide soft neutrality. They support red foliage without competing with it.
Medium to dark greys create sober neutrality against red foliage. Suitable for both evergreen and autumn reds.
These warm browns create natural harmony with red foliage. They remain relevant when the tree returns to dark green for the rest of the year.
This dark reddish brown extends the foliage color. Best used when the tree’s structure remains clearly readable.
Flowers & Fruits  infoFor seasonal flowers and fruits, the suggestions apply mainly to temporary or exhibition displays.
Fleurs roses
This rich, nuanced green creates a clear contrast with pink flowers. It remains coherent once flowering ends and foliage dominates.
This more muted green creates a soft contrast with pink flowers. Best suited for trees still under development.
White creates a luminous contrast with pink flowering. It brings lightness and places the flower at center stage.
This celadon creates a cool, gentle contrast with pink flowers. The contrast remains subtle and requires clearly readable flowering.
Blue pots are sometimes paired with pink flowers out of cultural habit. The contrast is weak and often decorative rather than meaningful.
Light greys provide sober neutrality against pink flowering. The flower remains the central element.
These warm browns create a warm neutrality. They support flowering without competing.
This muted lilac tone creates a soft harmony with pink flowering. It supports the flower without stealing the spotlight.
Very light pinks extend the flowering color. Use sparingly to avoid a decorative effect.
This purplish burgundy extends the pink tones of flowering in a darker version. It creates deep harmony without competing with the flowers.
Fleurs blanches
This palette of very dark greys to black creates a strong contrast in brightness with white flowering. It reinforces a dense, structured atmosphere, less suited to light compositions.
Dark reds create a warm contrast with white flowering. The white remains luminous without being cooled.
Medium greys offer discreet neutrality. The pot recedes to let white flowering fully express itself.
These warm browns provide warm neutrality. A classic and reliable choice with white flowers.
White naturally extends white flowering. It reinforces a sense of lightness and purity.
This ivory tone extends white flowering more softly. An alternative to pure white when avoiding a cold effect.
Fleur violette
Muted yellows and light ochres create a readable contrast with violet. The contrast is clear without becoming decorative.
This medium green creates a natural contrast with violet flowers or berries. The contrast remains softer than with warm complements.
Blues are close to violet on the color wheel. The contrast is weak and rarely readable.
Medium to dark greys provide sober neutrality against violet. The pot fades and lets the color express itself. A safe choice.
This warm brown creates balanced neutrality with violet. It tempers the color without dulling it.
White provides luminous neutrality with violet flowers. It can become dominant if the violet is very saturated.
These lilac and muted violet tones naturally extend the color of violet flowers. The harmony remains soft and elegant.
This purplish burgundy extends violet in a darker version. It adds depth and maturity to the composition.
This muted pink creates soft harmony with violet. Best used when flowering remains clearly readable.
Feuillage rouge Feuillage rouge
Deep greens (bottle green) create a clear contrast with red. A classic, readable, and durable contrast.
This turquoise creates a cool contrast with red and even orange berries. The contrast is temperature-based and remains softer.
With red fruits, this choice remains readable since the color is punctual.
White creates a strong light-value contrast with dark red foliage. A readable and elegant solution when the red is dense.
These cream and warm beige tones provide soft neutrality. They support red foliage without competing.
Medium to dark greys create sober neutrality against red foliage. Suitable for both evergreen and autumn reds.
These warm browns create natural harmony with red foliage. They remain relevant when the tree returns to dark green for the rest of the year.
This dark reddish brown extends the foliage color. Best used when the tree’s structure remains clearly readable.
Feuillage rouge Feuillage rouge
This turquoise creates a very readable cool contrast with orange fruits or berries. The temperature contrast highlights the fruit without repeating it.
This deep blue creates a cool contrast with orange fruits. A more sober choice than turquoise, often used in exhibitions.
This deep green creates a moderate contrast with orange fruits. The contrast remains natural but less pronounced.
Reds compete directly with orange fruits. The contrast is weak and often confusing.
These cream and warm beige tones provide luminous neutrality. Orange fruits remain the dominant elements.
Medium greys create mineral neutrality. The pot fades to let the fruits express themselves.
White provides very luminous neutrality against orange fruits, but can become dominant.
These ochre tones naturally extend the color of orange fruits. A warm and very readable harmony — an obvious choice.
Honey tones create warm, luminous harmony with orange fruits. They reinforce the autumn atmosphere.
This warm brown creates a more discreet harmony with orange fruits. Preferable when avoiding an overly colorful effect.

What about trunk color?

Trunk color rarely plays a decisive role when choosing a pot color. In most cases, the trunk is perceived primarily as a material, influencing the pattern, texture, or sobriety of the pot more than its actual color.

Special case: reddish wood

Some species (yew, juniper, exposed deadwood) feature naturally red or warm brown wood that is visually very present. In these specific cases:
warm browns or muted burgundy tones naturally extend the color of the wood,
neutral greys help calm the overall composition,
bright reds or glossy glazes are generally best avoided.

About black or very dark pots

Black or very dark pots appear only rarely in this chart, because they act more like a visual frame than a color that interacts with the tree.
They tend to work with almost anything and highlight the tree without drawing attention to themselves.
You could compare them to a black suit: elegant, safe, and easy to match.
This chart mainly focuses on colors that create contrast or harmony, but a dark pot remains a reliable and timeless choice.

See blue and green glazed pots See neutral pots See unglazed pots

These tools are meant to evolve. They do not provide ready-made answers, but open up possibilities.

The final choice always remains yours.

Read the guide on choosing a pot
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