The artistic interplay of green plants, stones and often water fascinates not only the Japanese. In Europe too, there are more and more lovers of this garden art, which not only uses bonsai.
Which trees are suitable for a Japanese garden?
Typical trees for a Japanese garden are pines (mountain, maiden, black pine), conifers (yew, larch), deciduous trees (maple, boxwood), rhododendrons, azaleas, cherry trees, ornamental cherry trees and blood plums. They give the garden a natural and harmonious atmosphere.
What is typical of a Japanese garden?
A typical Japanese garden recreates a natural landscape on a small scale. This can look very different: From a mountain landscape framed with pine trees to a garden pond with a bridge and tea house, very different design options are conceivable. The only characteristic is that the individual components express certain aspects of Japanese culture and the planting is done sparingly but carefully planned. Flowering plants are rarely found in Japanese gardens, but there are plants in numerous shades of green. The elements stone and water are also important, although the latter can also be represented in the form of (white) pebbles.
Which plants are suitable for a Japanese garden
It is less important to plant original Japanese trees than to choose suitable plants. For example, you should not plant a Japanese maple tree if you cannot find a suitable location for it in your garden. When choosing plants for the Japanese garden, always pay attention to the requirements in terms of location, soil and winter hardiness. You can also use native trees for planting - for example a field maple instead of a Japanese maple. Coniferous trees, which remain green in winter and are easy to shape, are typical for Japanese gardens.
Trees and bushes
For this reason, Japanese gardens primarily include pines (e.g. mountain or girl pines, black pines) as well as other conifers such as yew and larch. You can also plant deciduous trees, especially maple, boxwood, rhododendrons, azaleas as well as cherry trees and ornamental cherry trees as well as blood plums.
More plants
These trees are joined by ferns and grasses, such as bamboo, Japanese forest grass, broadleaf sedge, bearskin grass, ostrich fern, rainbow fern, etc. Moss is also essential, such as star moss. Flowering plants are rather rare, but can be found precisely positioned: In addition to the almost obligatory cherries, dogwoods, peonies and irises also belong in a Japanese garden.
Tip
If you want to fence off your property/garden so that it cannot be seen, then you can plant high hedges - or, as is common in Japan, use a white wall.
