Yes they are regular trees. I have an uncle who used to own a nursery (selling plants and trees) that decreed bonsai to be "cruel". I love him and my aunt in

Yes they are regular trees. I have an uncle who used to own a nursery (selling plants and trees) that decreed bonsai to be "cruel". I love him and my aunt in equal measure but should point out that they deployed rootstock for their trees (just saying!) I am toying with getting back into bonsai. I'm now 53 and might have enough patience to do quite well. I planted a few trees a few decades ago that I might find useful as some raw material. Who knows? If you fancy a dabble you can get a very easy good first result. Don't buy a "bonsai" from a garden centre - please don't. The materials are very cheap but you do have to invest with time.