The impeccably designed gardens of Japan’s palaces, temples, parks, and famous institutions are known for inducing a sense of relaxation and restoring balance in perceptive visitors.
Masters of form and nuanced symbolism, the Japanese are famed for incorporating natural materials in their gardens. While both the living and non-living components tend to have a spiritual rationale for their place in the garden, people of all backgrounds can delight in their sight.
Japanese gardens are designed with a wealth of aesthetic principles. They are dynamic and ever-changing forms of living art. Just as a bonsai tree takes much care and attention to mold, a tea garden, rocky arrangement, or even a water feature with aquatic plants requires practice and dedication.
Plants are seldom chosen just for their trendiness or ease of care. Their growth form, spread, seasonal colors, religious symbolism, and pliability are just a few major considerations.
To narrow down a set of plants for your Japanese garden, it would be necessary to visualize what type of picturesque landscape would suit your property.
A combination of both East Asian and western native plants may be used to add subtle gradients of color. Small trees, highly textural bushes, productive grasses, and the occasional flowering herb should harmoniously contribute cool and warm tones.
1) Dragon head bamboo (Fargesia rufa)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: leaf” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”25″]Native to China[/su_icon_text]
Clumping bamboo is one of the most common types of large grasses used in Japanese gardens. The dragon head bamboo, in particular, is valued for its short and slender stalks.
Over time, these gracefully arch due to the weight of their tapered, bluish-green foliage. Well-established clumps may boast a height of up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall. Hardy to USDA zones 5 – 8, this species is cold-tolerant and able to maintain its visual appeal throughout the year.
Both functional and visually attractive, dragon head bamboo can act as a natural screen or as a living element to frame one side of a garden, hide unsightly elements of a fence, or naturalize artificial materials.
This RHS Awardee of Garden Merit thrives best in partial shade. It is ideal for creating low hedges or as a container plant on a porch or terrace.
2) Japanese maple tree (Acer palmatum)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: leaf” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”25″]Native to Japan, Korea, China, Mongolia, and Russia[/su_icon_text]
The quintessential addition to a Japanese-themed garden or ornamental pond, Acer palmatum is highly valued for its dome-like form and its seasonal appeal.
A deciduous species, it can be cultivated as a shrub or as a small tree (up to around 30 feet or 9 meters tall). Some of its award-winning cultivars respond beautifully to grafting and bonsai techniques.
Their canopy consists of palmate leaves with 5 – 9 lobes each. These may initially arise as bright green foliage, eventually reddening in fall, or as light to deep red foliage to begin with.
Though the Japanese maple is exquisitely beautiful, it is often planted with a measure of restraint. Just a few specimens are enough to transform large landscapes.
A select few cultivars, maintained with due dedication, bring out the species’ best features and accentuate its value as an ornamental plant.
3) Cherry blossom trees (Prunus spp.)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: leaf” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”25″]Cosmopolitan distribution[/su_icon_text]
Each spring, thousands of tourists flock to Japan in the hopes of catching its cherry blossom trees in full bloom. These have majestic canopies which can look remarkably different from one season to another.
At the height of spring, thousands of buds may bloom to create a deep to light pink-colored canopy. Though they do produce fruits, the most popular cultivars are exclusively grown for their blooms.
Some cultivars are suitable for medium-sized gardens, whereas others form extensive root systems that are more ideal for large landscapes.
It must be noted that, while cherry blossom trees are commonly found in Japanese-inspired gardens outside of Japan, they are not often used in traditional gardens because they don’t respond well to being pruned.
Some dwarf varieties may thrive in a smaller space, but larger cultivars will require a broad area to meet their full potential as blooming trees.
4) Hostas (Hosta spp.)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: leaf” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”25″]Native to Japan, Korea, China, and East Russia[/su_icon_text]
Hostas are some of the best shade plants for ornamental gardens. These perennials are grown for their stunning foliage, which boasts an impressive variation of colors, textures, shapes, and sizes.
Generally hardy to USDA zones 3 – 8, hostas are perennials with an herbaceous form of growth. Their leaves arise in upright rosettes and are anchored to the substrate by a rhizomatous network of roots.
The low, leafy clumps of some of the largest varieties may have a spread of up to 6 feet (1.8 meters).
In Japanese gardens, hostas may be used to fill out the gaps around the base of taller trees. Several species may be grown next to one another to highlight their color differences.
Their lush foliage may act as a protective cover for visiting wildlife. Hedges around patios and low walls should help naturalize unsightly finishes.
5) Hakone grass (Hakonechloa macra)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: leaf” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”25″]Native to Japan[/su_icon_text]
Hakone grass, also known as Japanese forest grass, is found in moist environments throughout Japan’s central mountain ranges.
Increasingly used as an ornamental plant, this species is characterized by tough, dense mounds of gracefully arched foliage. Each individual leaf may grow to 10 inches (25 cm) or more in adequately rich and consistently moist locations. Though rapid drainage is crucial for the survival of both the roots and leaves, dry substrates may hinder survival.
Hakone grass is often used to line walkways, serve as ground cover on both flat or sloping areas, or act as a vibrant and textural filler in between rocks in the shade.
Its leaf blades are typically bright green, but it does come in varieties with gold or white lengthwise stripes! Though it has a knack for spreading on its own, it is not considered an invasive plant.
6) Japanese water iris (Iris ensata)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: leaf” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”25″]Native to Japan, Korea, China, and Russia[/su_icon_text]
Ornamental ponds in Japanese-style gardens are a work of art. These have the most alluring floating, emergent, and edge plants.
They harmoniously blend in with other elements of the garden to set an otherworldly scene, one which compels visitors to meditate or rest in deep thought along the shoreline. One of the best edge plants in this setting is the Japanese water iris.
Tolerant of temperatures that dip down to around -20˚C (-4˚F), Japanese water iris is hardy to USDA zones 4 – 9. Its elegant clumps are set apart by their upright shoots with narrow, sword-like foliage.
Avoid situating its root zone in permanently submerged zones with depths of more than 2 inches (5 cm). In optimal environments, this species grows to about 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall. Its early to midsummer blooms are relatively large and are often likened to those of orchids.
7) Garden juniper (Juniperus procumbens)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: leaf” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”25″]Native to Japan[/su_icon_text]
Garden juniper, particularly the ‘Nana’ cultivar, is an evergreen member of the cypress family (Cupressaceae). In Japanese gardens, this is usually grown as a groundcover plant, a trailing shrub with stems that grace low walls, or as a bonsai tree.
It is particularly appealing in Zen gardens, where its textural foliage contrasts the greyish and imposing look of boulders and smaller stones. A single specimen may possess a spread of up to 6 feet (1.8 meters).
This species should be grown in sun-exposed and well-draining parts of the garden. Well-established stands may tolerate brief dry periods, so they may be kept as low-maintenance features. On sloping zones, their root system can improve substrate conditions and reduce erosion rates.
8) Azalea (Rhododendron spp.)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: leaf” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”25″]Native to Asia, North America, and Europe[/su_icon_text]
Azaleas are principally cultivated for their throes of eye-catching flowers. Most ornamental varieties are shrubs which, from April to May, are entirely covered by their blooms.
Their petals range in color from the lightest of pinks to the deepest of purples. Irresistible to pollinators, which include butterflies and hummingbirds, azaleas are often planted in striking masses.
Japanese gardeners may categorize their favored azaleas into two groups – Tsutsuji azaleas and Satsuki azaleas. The former tends to flower earlier and has a more notably compact growth habit. The latter has a late flowering period and is distinguished by its markedly shiny foliage.
A testament to the remarkable skill of modern-day horticulturists, many common cultivars are bred from hybrids that are not even found in nature!
9) Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: leaf” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”25″]Native to Japan[/su_icon_text]
Cultivated for its stunning ornamental features and its valuable wood, the hinoki cypress can be grown as a large tree or as a bonsai. Many of its dwarf, slow-growing varieties are recipients of the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Its range of cultivars exhibit remarkable range in height and size. While some grow to just a few inches tall, others are likely to tower to heights of 60+ feet (18+ meters). In a Japanese garden, smaller varieties, which are undeniably much easier to maintain, are preferred.
The rough-textured foliage of the hinoki cypress is deep to bright green and consists of scaly lateral and facial leaves. Small cones arise from the intricate structure of the outer branchlets.
Cultivars with a more shrub-like mode of growth include ‘Repens’, ‘Elf’, and ‘Hage’. ‘Nana’ varieties, ‘Kosteri’, and ‘Templehof’ are just a few options that can be grown as dwarf trees.
10) Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: leaf” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”25″]Native to Japan[/su_icon_text]
The Japanese wisteria is an incredible trailing plant for gardens with trellises and decorative arches. It must be noted, however, that this productive vine tends to become invasive outside of its native range.
Its tough, twining stems become increasingly woody over time. Powerful, they reliably twine in a clockwise direction around posts and the shoots of neighboring plants. If you’re interested in this species but would prefer a cultivar with a slower growth rate, opt for those with RHS awards.
In late spring to summer, mature Japanese wisteria vines send out remarkably long and undeniably stunning racemes of delicate blooms. Fragrant, these have a combination of lavender to deep purple pigments.
A single, drooping inflorescence may measure more than a foot long. Outside of the bloom period, seemingly weightless, bright green leaflets contrast the ever-lengthening branches.
11) Japanese camellia (Camellia japonica)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: leaf” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”25″]Native to China[/su_icon_text]
A late-winter bloomer, the Japanese camellia draws attention during the first few months of the year (in cool areas).
Cultivated as a shrub or a small tree, this perennial has become increasingly popular as a bonsai plant. Even its bonsai specimens can produce fairly large solitary or paired blooms. These arise on branches of short stems, which take on a greyish tinge as they age.
Often the subject of Far East Asian floral art, Japanese camellia blooms may have single or double layers of petals. Their pigments may be deep red, the lightest pink, and practically all hues in between.
In Japanese gardens, these are often symbolic of love. Deep red blooms suggest beauty and grace, whereas white ones are associated with innocence and purity. Potted bonsai specimens, best placed in dappled shade, may be used as focal points in small gardens.
12) Japanese boxwood (Buxus microphylla var. japonica)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: leaf” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”25″]Native to Japan[/su_icon_text]
Like other boxwood shrubs, the ‘Japonica’ variety is known for its compact and highly textured clumps. This evergreen species grows to a maximum height of around 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall.
Versatile yet relatively slow-growing, it responds positively to being pruned. To promote its spread, avoid planting fast-spreading herbs and shrubs around its crown. Its shallow roots will need ample time and resources to become well-established.
Japanese boxwood should be grown in zones with partial to dappled shade. Healthy specimens may persist in full shade, but keep in mind that some sunlight is necessary for maintaining leaf density.
Moreover, a sheltered yet ventilated location is preferable as the leaves may dry out due to strong winds. This means that it is perfect for adding living structure to confined spaces in Japanese gardens!
