Landscaping Design - Japanese Garden Plants
About Japanese Garden Plants
Japanese Gardens in Brief
The typical Japanese garden employs rocks, sand, artificial hills, ponds and flowing water. While plants and trees may be secondary to these elements, they are most definitely the primary concern when it comes to the garden’s design. The stones represent fixed durability, whereas the trees, shrubs and perennials reflect the changing of seasons. Trees and plants give the Japanese garden its distinct character. The Japanese garden is mainly green with just about exclusive use of evergreen trees, unlike the European garden which is multicolored with a wide variety of bushes, trees and flowers.
Japanese gardens were not always uniform in color. In the 10th and 12th centuries, the classical Japanese garden contained cherry and plum trees, as well as pines and willows. Ornamental flowering shrubs were very popular, but with the influence of Zen and Southern China watercolor paintings, the colorful Japanese garden was faced with a change. Flowering plants and shrubs became regarded as symbols of frivolity and so were replaced by evergreen trees and plants that represent eternity. About Japanese Garden Plants
The selection of plants in Japanese gardens is quiet limited. Usually a Japanese garden will consist of only a dozen or so different plant species, all of which are evergreen trees and shrubs. This is not a set back however; on the contrary, the less number of differing textures and colors, the more the garden portrays unification and harmony. Plus, stressing on evergreens ensures reaching the aim of all season beauty. When flowering trees and shrubs are found in Japanese gardens they are most likely to be azaleas which are deep pink in color. Some Japanese gardens use plants that seem unusual to Westerners, like moss, bamboo, and well-pruned pine trees.
Different Types of Japanese Garden Plants
Listed below are some different plants traditionally found in Japanese gardens:
- Azalea: Most professional gardeners believe that azaleas, though often disregarded, are the most significant plants in the Japanese garden. It offers evergreen foliage and a dash of deep pink upon the arrival of spring from mid-February till March. Its shallow root system doesn't call for a deep planting hole.
- Iris: This plant is an important member of Japanese gardens, notable for its big flowers in soft hues of blue, pink and white. The plant represents plain and refined beauty.
- Japanese Maple: Japanese maples are valued for their lacy leaves and wonderful autumn colors which is probably why it is a favorite in the Japanese garden design. Little by little, they are being replaced by Amur maples, a hardier species, which is left to grow naturally without pruning.
- Lotus: Also known as the “flower of Buddha”, the lotus is thought of as a blessed and divine plant. Normally found laying on the surface of a pond with its gorgeous large corolla in shades of pink and white. The lotus is supported by a strong stem which is anchored to the bottom of the pond.
- Pine: Pine trees are used to add privacy for their widespread branches can screen the garden area from outside distractions and onlookers. Pine trees are pruned often to keep their shapes matching the surroundings. Some pine trees are impenetrable and compact, others are hollow.
- Shrub Peony: Flowering in late spring, their flowers come in shades of pink, mauve and yellow and last only for a few days. Shrub peonies need substantial attention and good winter protection. They symbolize prosperity, for there was a time when only the rich Japanese could afford to plant them in their gardens.
