How to Choose Plants for a Japanese Garden
When planning a Japanese garden, keep it simple. It should reflect both harmony and balance. Research plant species for your specific location and know what plants will grow best. Find out if the plant species that you choose are straightforward and effortless to keep in their desired size and shape. The plants that you select for the Japanese garden should be aesthetically compatible and create an effect or an imprint of the organic world. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Begin by choosing background trees. The majority of the garden will be shades of green so choose forest-type trees such as evergreens to symbolize permanence. Other trees to consider are Japanese black pine or cedar. Also consider the various bamboos available. These trees and bamboo create texture and shadows to give emphasis to the plants in the foreground or to a particular space with a statue or bench.
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Determine which plants to place near a pond or waterfall. Look for deciduous trees to frame or edge the area surrounding the water. Select trees that have fine leaves which will make the space appear bigger. Consider maples such as bloodgood Japanese or dwarf Japanese, poplars or willow trees. Foliage which is ornamental has grace in its form, reflects over the water and adds autumn colors.
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Select appropriate hedging which is typically trimmed in traditional patterns. Hedging can serve several purposes. It can provide some security if you select plants with thorns or prickly leaves. Additionally, hedging plants can also offer some privacy along with ornamentation. Look for broad-leaf boxwood, Japanese barberry bush with its slender and spiny branches and the Japanese yew bush, an ornamental evergreen.
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Design the garden to display the changing seasons. Bring in color at the front using flowers, plants and evergreens. Look at Japanese irises which bloom in soft palettes of purple with upright foliage. Opt for Kurume azaleas, a compact shrub which blooms in the autumn, winter and early spring in shades of pinks, salmons and whites. Other options include Japanese tree peonies, hibiscus, camellia and lotus flowers.
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Finish up by choosing ground cover which balances the garden with texture and color. It can range from baby's tears with its tiny foliage to periwinkle which has thick glossy leaves and small blue flowers. Look at rock cress which grows well in crevices with a dense cluster of thick foliage and small white, pink or purple delicate flowers. Or, opt for a carpet of soft moss in various varieties.
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Tips & Warnings
Speak with local nursery staff or hire a landscape consultant to properly choose plants and trees that are suitable to your local climate and environment. Place lotus flowers in the pond which is a symbol of enlightenment.
Azalea plants are poisonous if ingested. Find an alternative if you have small children or pets. Never place bamboo too near a pond or water source because of their strong roots.
