With the heat, most visitors spread out on the large lawns of the Bois de Vincennes, unaware that just a few meters away lies one of the city’s most unusual botanical spaces. Once you push open the gates of the Parc Floral, simply walk up the paths to Pavilion 16 to find yourself in a world apart. Far from the vast beds of traditional flowers, you come face-to-face with a landscape entirely designed around the highly demanding art of bonsai cultivation.
Miniature trees over a century old
As soon as you step inside the pavilion, you’ll see… dozens of potted trees displayed on individual wooden pedestals. You’ll want to get up close and read the small labels: some of the specimens on display here are over a hundred years old.
The project was conceived following the success of the exhibition “Bonsai: Living Sculptures,” held in 1989 at the same location. More than 500 trees were on display to the public at that time. Given the interest it generated, the City of Paris decided to preserve part of this collection and create a permanent space dedicated to this Japanese art form.
The collection now includes pines, maples, azaleas, and junipers, grown in shallow pots and tended year-round by the park’s gardeners. The oldest specimen is said to be a juniper dating back to 1796, making it one of the site’s most remarkable features.
Several exhibits also highlight the ties between Paris and Japan. In 2008, the city of Kanuma gifted azaleas to the capital to celebrate 150 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. They have since been added to this collection maintained at the Parc Floral.
On November 14 and 15, 2026, the collection will take center stage during the Bonsai Culture Expo. Demonstrations , meetings with experts, and remarkable trees will offer a deeper understanding of an art form that relies as much on patience as on precision.
Parc Floral de Paris, Route de la Pyramide, 75012 Paris
Open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. during the summer season