Bonsai originated in China over 2,000 years ago and is considered an art form that is never finished as the plant continues to grow. The word "bonsai" comes from Japanese and means a plant grown in a small pot. Certain tree varieties like spruce, pine, zelkova and maples are suitable for bonsai, while fruit trees are generally avoided since only the tree is miniaturized, not the fruits. Bonsai can be displayed individually or in a group planting style called a multi-tree planting that resembles a miniature forest.