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Index : Landscape Plants
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- 20. Accent Plants for Japanese-styled Gardens - Top
- Yes, even in the desert Southwest, many gardeners have an interest in creating their garden or a portion of it in a Japanese style. The elements that most often utilized in creating such a garden are; meandering paths, thoughtfully placed rocks and boulders, natural water features, half-moon bridges, Japanese lanterns. But the elements that tie all of these separate components together are strong accent plants.
Here are just a few of the quintessential varieties of plants for Japanese gardens:
Bamboo (Bambusa spp) makes an ideal screening and accent plant for Japanese gardens. Many varieties of clumping bamboos are available. Unlike running bamboo that can take over an entire yard, clumping types stay in a controlled growing clump. Some of the best small to medium clumping bamboos include; Chinese Goddess, Mexican Weeping, Graceful, Silverstripe and Striking Bamboo. All grow well in the Tucson area. For more information on clumping bamboos contact the Bamboo Ranch, a specialty nursery here in Tucson. Their internet address is: bambooranch@juno.com
Sago palm (Cycas revoluta) is one of the best known plants in Japanese gardens. It’s palm-like appearance adds an exotic quality. Stiff, dark-green leaves fan out from the crown of the plant. In time, this plant develops a substantial trunk and can grow to a height of 10 feet and higher. Sago palms require mid-day and afternoon shade. If overexposed to summer sun, the leaves will scorch and turn yellow.
Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) isn’t really bamboo, but it looks like it -just in miniature. I have seen this plant reach a height of 6 to 8 feet, but it more typically grows 3 to 4 foot tall and about 3 feet wide. The plant has wide set, lacy, compound leaves projecting out from short cane-like stems. Heavenly bamboo is adapted to full sun or part shade and is drought tolerant. For the best appearance, locate plants where they are protected from strong winds.
Natal plum (Carissa grandiflora) are lush evergreen shrubs with thick rounded leaves and a dense habit of growth. In the spring plants produce a scattering of showy white, star-shaped flowers which are very fragrant. Standard forms of natal plum grow to a height and spread of nearly 5 feet, but dwarf forms such as ‘Green Carpet’ and “Prostrata’ grow no larger that 2 feet high and 4 feet across. Plants are somewhat cold sensitive, so locate them in warmer locations or under the protective canopy of a tree.
Dwarf pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira ‘Wheeler’s Dwarf’) is a dense, dark-green shrub that grows in a rounded to spreading form. It’s the only plant I know who’s natural form looks as though it’s been tightly sheared. In the Japanese garden dwarf pittosporum planted along pathways or next to water features and boulders lends a feeling of permanence and age to the garden. Just make sure you locate pittosporum in medium to full shade. It tolerates only morning sun.
Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) is a plant for all seasons. It is available in a range of sizes from dwarf shrubs to small trees. All have showy, crape-paper type bloom clusters in a full range of colors. Leaves turn crimson in the fall and as they drop, they reveal the beautiful patchwork colored bark of green, beige and cinnamon. Attractive seed pods also enhance the appearance of the plant during the winter months. Crape myrtles thrive in full desert sun and can be used to provide shade for less tolerant Japanese garden plants.
Other choices with a decidedly Japanese flavor include: Lilyturf (Liriope muscari), Japanese privet (Ligustrum japonicum), Japanese yew (Podocarpus macrophyllus), Umbrella plant (Cyperus alternifolius), and Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda). All grow well here in Southern Arizona.
“Roses - Winter Pruning & Planting” will be the topic for this week’s garden demonstrations. They will be presented on Wednesday at 9 a.m. at the Pima County Extension Center, 4210 N. Campbell Ave (central); and at 1 p.m. at the Wilmot Library (east), and on Friday at 1 p.m. at the Oro Valley Public Library (northwest).
Written by John Begeman, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the University of Arizona, 520-626-5161. - Updated: January 22, 2006
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