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Japanese taro, also known as dasheen, is one of four main taro types. A common side dish for Asian-Pacific cuisine, dasheen grows from cuttings taken from a parent plant. The cuttings, or hulis as they are called, comprise 12- to 18-inch stems attached to a corm. These tender greens prefer temperatures above 68 degrees, so planting is commonly in the spring, followed by growing season of six to 10 months and fall harvest.
At the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876, Americans celebrated the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Introduced at the Exposition for the first time to the public were new technological wonders: a typewriter, a calculator, Edison’s telegraph, Bell’s telephone and a famous vine. Purdue University says that kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata) “is as close to a celebrity that a plant can become.”
Konjac, devil's tongue and voodoo lily are common names for Amorphophallus konjac. Cooked konjac tubers yield an edible fibrous substance called glucomannan that is a staple in Japan. Certain therapeutic benefits of glucomannan, or konjac mannan, are widely promoted in the health food industry. The validity of such claims is under serious study by international governmental food safety agencies. It remains that konjac mannan is a safe food, whatever the results.
Japanese yews, or Taxus cuspidata, are useful shrubs for shade because they keep their dense, handsome growth habit even in low light. They're hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant zones 4 through 7, where they're used for hedges, foundation plants and screens. There are many different-sized cultivars available, allowing homeowners to find a Japanese yew to fit nearly any location.
Yew trees grow all over the United States. Yew root systems grow deep and have a wide spread, so if you plan to transplant the yew to a different location, it needs a rather large root ball. The best time to transplant a yew is early spring. This allows the plant enough time to establish in its new location before cold weather returns.
A slow-growing, cold-hardy and prune-tolerant large shrub from Japan and nearby Chinese Manchuria, the Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata) remains evergreen in winter with its short green needles that make twigs look fernlike. In the United States, gardeners use Japanese yew as clipped hedges, especially in shady areas. The copious production of seeds in fleshy red cones makes Japanese yew an invasive, undesirable plant to use in gardens. Deer love to eat yew twigs, too. Other similar looking evergreens exist, based on their foliage.
Helwingia japonica is a small deciduous shrub. It does not have much ornamental value. But it does have the strange habit of flowering and fruiting from right in the center of its leaves. Helwingia japonica is primarily cultivated for its young leaves, flowers and stems, which may be eaten with rice or cooked in soups, sauces and stews. To start your own Helwingia japonica, sow the seeds indoors in late winter before planting them out in a more permanent spot.
Ferns are some of the most ancient organisms that still live on the planet today. Tracing back to more than 360 million years ago, the fern was thriving before flowering plants began evolving. Ferns reproduce differently than conifers and flowering plants using a process that has kept them from going extinct for millions of years.
The Japanese plum yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia) is a coniferous shrub with long, evergreen needles. The most commonly grown cultivar in the residential landscape, "Fastigiata," grows to 10 feet in height although others reach 30 feet high with a 20-foot spread. The Japanese plum yew grows best in U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 6 through 9. For best foliage color, grow your Japanese plum yew in partial shade and plant it in the spring.
Ferns are plants often found in tropical regions and have a primordial appearance. They have flat, feathery leaves called fronds and are composed of nearly 12,000 species. Ferns belong to the Pteridophyte division of the plant kingdom and are vascular, meaning they transport water via a system of small ducts and veins. All ferns share similar structures despite their great variety.
Japanese gardens are most successful when they integrate plants of a varied assortment of textures, colors and shapes. Scale is also a vital component in creating a Japanese garden, so part of the process is knowing which plants will best serve your particular landscape and yard areas. Seek unification between the plants even when they are used individually as focal points. All these elements are easier to put into action because Japanese gardens can utilize plants across the spectrum.
Japanese gardens are miniature landscapes characterized by their simplicity and the symbolic ways they pay tribute to the harmony found in nature. It is not uncommon to feature only a handful of plants in a Japanese garden, and evergreen trees are a staple in traditional and modern gardens across the globe to ensure healthy color every season of the year. Consider these evergreen trees when planning your own Japanese garden, all of which are common sights in "nihon-teien" of every style.
A garden can theoretically be planted anywhere there's enough space and soil, including on a sloped hillside or the like. However, keep in mind a few issues if you're planting on a slope. This includes issues related to the actual incline of the slope as well as its drainage. In addition, the kind of soil on that potential garden slope needs to be examined. Fortunately, several techniques can allow for sloped gardening, including terracing.
The Japanese yew is a shrub or small tree that can eventually grow 40 feet tall and spread 20 feet wide if left untrained. Spreading forms of the yew like the "prostrata" variety can be trained to make a groundcover, while the "fastigiata" variety grows upright in columns. Yews are effective in keeping deer out of gardens when trained as a hedge and are tolerant of dry spells.
When people think of fall color, the changing leaves of deciduous trees springs immediately to mind. While many trees do put on an impressive autumn display, they are not the sole source of seasonal interest. The landscape can come truly alive in autumn with a eye-catching collection of late-blooming perennials. Though it is not as well known as the fall-flowering chrysanthemum or aster, the Japanese anemone plant is one of the most elegant flowers of fall, if not the entire gardening season.
Japanese gardens are not symmetrically designed or overflowing with elements and color; they are landscapes geared to promote contemplation and relaxation. Japanese gardens traditionally incorporate plants, stones and water. Water may come in the form of ponds and waterfalls or be symbolized by gravel or sand. Whatever trees, shrubs, vines and flowers you decide to plant, there is no right or wrong way to emulate a Japanese garden, as long as it brings you peace.
If you have ferns in your yard or home, it can be frustrating to find them being taken over by tiny freeloading ants. Though the ants may not necessarily be there to damage the fern, their very presence can be irritating enough. For ants trespassing in areas they simply shouldn't be, there are several ways to get them out.
The plants you choose to grow in a window garden depends on a number of factors, including the purpose of the garden and the growing conditions. Window gardens can be used for functional purposes like providing food or they can be merely decorative artistic additions that complement your overall decor. Whether your window receives a significant amount of sunshine or is haunted by shade, plants are available to bring your window to life.
Japanese honeysuckle, also called Lonicera japonica, is a hardy vine that has a woody stem and dark green leaves. In the summer, the vine develops clusters of yellow and white flowers that emit a highly fragrant aroma. After the flowers fade, they are replaced in the fall by tiny black berries that contain the Japanese honeysuckle seeds. If planted, these seeds will germinate and begin to grow new Japanese Honeysuckle plants.
Anemone japonica (Anemone hupehensis var. japonica) closely resembles a daisy and produces multipetaled flower blooms in the summer. The blooms most commonly appear in white, but can also be red or pink in color. Anemone japonica plants can grow from seeds, but germination typically takes longer than with other flower varieties. In addition, since the germination rate is low, you should plant twice as many seeds as needed to ensure adequate numbers of adult flowers.
Japanese plants are many times valued for their ornamental qualities, but some of them can be poisonous. Children and pets are often at a high risk of plant poisoning or choking on plant parts. Before placing any plant in your yard or garden, be certain it is safe for your family and pets.
Japanese yew is an evergreen-needled plant that gets small red fruits on the female plant. These yews bloom in May or June with variations in flower type between the sexes. Japanese yews are hardy to USDA zone 4 and grow well in sun or shade. They are very versatile plants that can get 40 to 50 feet tall, but are easy to keep pruned lower. Japanese yews grow only about 12 inches per year and have numerous cultivars.
Native Japanese plants are quite common in the American landscape. Popular Japanese native plants, such as the Grandiflora hydrangea, can be found around some homes in the United States. These plants can be used to add an Asian flair to any area of the garden, producing a green scenery with a touch of color. Much like other plants, native Japanese plants require a specific amount of care to ensure that the plants grow healthy for beautiful panorama.
The Japanese aucuba (Aucuba japonica), also called Japanese laurel, is a rounded, broad-leaf evergreen shrub that grows 5 to 10 feet tall and equally as wide at a slow pace. The large tapering oval leaves are glossy green, sometimes with smears or flecks of white or yellow, making it an attractive accent shrub for shady gardens in USDA hardiness zones 6 through 10. Male-gendered shrubs do not produce the showy red berries, but must be present for the berries to develop on female cultivars.
There are a number of Japanese poisonous plants that have been introduced to the U.S. Most of these plants are flowering plants that produce colorful flowers and are used as ornamental plants. The common factor with all these plants is that they are all poisonous when ingested.
Japanese holly (Ilex crenata) grows slowly, 6 to 15 feet tall and 8 to 12 feet wide, and resembles boxwood shrubs in habit and size of its small, evergreen, oval leaves. Holly leaves are arranged in an alternating pattern on the twigs. Female gendered shrubs produce small black fruits that are easily overlooked and some modern cultivars also bear differently colored leaves and mature to much smaller sizes. Native to Japan, Korea and Sakhalin in easternmost Russia, Japanese holly is best grown in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 5, 6 and 7.
Evergreens are a staple of the Japanese garden, symbolizing long life and happiness. Adding plants with colorful leaves and bark creates a space that can be enjoyed year-round. Gardeners living in USDA plant hardiness zone 5 -- including parts of Iowa, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Missouri -- can choose from a variety of evergreens and Japanese maples able to withstand the zone's winter temperatures, down to minus 20.
Japan's unique climate, wide ranging temperatures, and abundant rainfall support a large variety of different plants. In fact, the Botanical Gardens Conservation International, estimates that Japan is home to 7,000 native species. While Japan may be home to a number of heavily populated cities, these only make up about 10 percent of Japan's landscape. Thick forests, majestic mountains and long stretches of beaches make up the rest of the country.
The popularity of artful gardening in Japan rose alongside the popularity of Zen Buddhism in the country. Online resource Japanese Lifestyle's History of Japanese Gardening explains that the rise of Zen coincided with advances in gardening technologies. These technological advances encourage enthusiasm for gardening. Japanese garden plants and trees run a large gamut, from maples to moss. All of these plants will grow in the United States.
The aim of the Chianwa style of Japanese garden is to lead you not only to the tea house but into a state of tranquility. Pathways wander through bits of greenery and over koi-filled ponds. A stone basin called a "tsukubai" is filled with water, ready for you to purify your hands, and theoretically your spirit, before you set foot in a simple wood and bamboo tea house. Plants are carefully selected and arranged to make your journey a memorable one.
Among the most beautiful expressions of Japanese culture, gardens seek to re-create landscapes found in nature within a private, controlled space. Several elements are key in creating a Japanese garden, including a sense of open space, organic imperfection and a realistic depiction of nature throughout the seasons, which is achieved with the careful placement of water elements, structures and plants. Chosen for their seasonal beauty and symbolic or cultural significance, the common plants of Japanese gardens provide visual interest year-round.
Japan has a wide assortment of evergreen plants like trees, shrubs and ferns. Japanese gardeners use evergreen plants to create a foundation for gardens. Evergreen plants offer year-round color to gardens, which is why Japanese gardeners favor the plants.
Japanese gardens have a long, rich history of cultivation and elegance. According to Bowdoin College, their stone and water features are used carefully along with simple plantings to create a contemplative atmosphere for tea ceremonies, conversation and meditation. Japanese gardens are typically designed with native Japanese plants in mind. Not all of them will grow in Florida, particularly south of Sarasota and Fort Lauderdale, in the hotter, Zone 10 areas.
According to Master Garden Products, Japanese tea gardens developed in the 17th century around the time the tea ceremony began taking root. Solitude and peace were necessary to prepare for sado, or the Way of the Tea. This led to tea gardens developing to depict a journey away from one's busy life and into serenity. A series of thresholds throughout the garden helps to evoke a sense of traveling, with carefully chosen and placed plants providing distinct stages. The plants in a Japanese tea garden must be assiduously cultivated yet also give a feeling of being in the wilderness.
The flowers of Japanese anemone blossom in the fall on the tips of 1- to 4-foot stems. At the base of the plant, there are clusters of dark green lobed leaves covered with soft hairs. Depending on the variety, your plant might bloom in white, pink or red. Although Japanese anemone is slow to establish, once it takes hold, it spreads quickly through its underground tubers. Plant Japanese anemone in partial shade in the fall.
Growing Japanese garden plants can be a rewarding and relaxing experience. Some research and dedication is required to grow Japanese plants successfully. With the variety of Japanese garden plants available it is easy to create a unique look for each garden.
The Japanese garden relates or reflects tranquility and peace. Everything works together in harmony and most plants of the in the Japanese garden are there because they are easy to care for. The plan for this garden is to recreate nature, but on a much smaller scale. Through the choice of garden plants, it often combines the elements of Shinto or Zen.
Fall perennial gardens give us one last shot at color before everything goes white. Of course there are the usual asters and mums in the fall garden, but if you are looking for something different, consider the Japanese anemone. With petals the texture of roses and cheery orange and green centers, the Japanese anemone flower blooms in soft pinks and white. The plant prefers light shade, so if you have a high tree that allows dappled sunlight beneath the canopy, the Japanese anemone will feel right at home. If you are harvesting seeds from the plant, look for the fluffy,…
Japanese rock gardens are traditionally dry landscape gardens. Designed for meditation, they are walled in to eliminate distractions. The sand, or raked gravel, and stone are typically positioned in such a way that they resemble nature--streams or waterfalls--or symbolize famous Japanese battles. Few plants are used in rock gardens because they are considered distracting.
Japanese gardens provide visitors with a tranquil environment where landscaping features, such as bridges, paths and ponds, combine with trees, shrubs and flowers to create a meditative setting. Common in Buddhist monasteries around the world, the Japanese garden began as the garden of the Japanese ruling class. The traditional plants and landscape features are often metaphors for religious references, such as purification, spirits and immortality. A Japanese garden includes some plants from each of the plant categories listed below. A large garden might include examples of all the categories.
The Japanese climbing hydrangea, or Schizophragma hydraneoides, is a vine that climbs 20 to 30 feet tall. This hydrangea variety has large, nine-inch white flower clusters that bloom in mid- to late summer and greenish-silver leaves that turn yellow in the fall. The Japanese climbing hydrangea grows best in USDA Zones 5 through 8, so it can withstand temperatures down to about -15 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant your Japanese climbing hydrangea in the springtime, when the danger of frost has passed.
Japanese painted fern plants are quite hardy and are highly prized by gardeners. The vibrant colors of the Japanese painted fern add a radiant burst to small gardens, and grow nicely along side other types of flowers and shrubs. As a perennial, the Japanese painted fern will come back year after year with proper care. If you want to add it to your garden or indoor plant collection, here are some steps to keep your plant well cared for.
The green, gold or burgundy foliage of the Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) makes it a popular shrub for landscaping around homes. After several seasons of growth, the plant can grow leggy or unsightly with long stems or a floppy habit. Prune the shrub with one of two intentions: trimming the plant tips for shaping or severe pruning for rejuvenation.
There are two types of irises--land irises and pond or water irises like Japanese irises. These flowering plants grow from rhizomes (fat roots, or bulbs). You cn buy rhizomes at lawn and garden centers as bare bulbs or bulbs with clipped roots and leaves. A couple of easy steps will ensure success with growing Japanese irises.
Choosing the correct location and properly planting the Japanese plum yew is critical to the establishment of this carefree plant. Once established, it is drought and shade tolerant.
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.
Japanese gardens are unique, peaceful environments full of gorgeous, lush plants and flowers. A Japanese garden requires a variety of plants in order to achieve a Zen-like atmosphere.
Looking for a hearty, leafy plant for your landscape? Learn about Japanese boxwood in this free gardening video clip.
