Japanese-style plants for water gardens
Q We finished building our pond a couple of months ago and it's now been up and running for the past six weeks. Of course these things turn out much more expensive than you first thought, so we've had to wait a while to finish off the landscaping. Can you recommend some plants that would fit in with a Japanese themed garden?
ANSWER
It is one of the Murphy's laws of landscaping that there is never enough money for the plants at the end of the project no matter how large the budget. In true Japanese style gardens the Japanese themselves will choose plants from a remarkably few groups plants despite the fact that so many of our favourite garden plants come from Japan. They like the garden to be a slow growing static scene that is loaded with symbolism and representation. Time is marked by the seasons and in turn these are marked by the colour in various plants. In spring there is the Cherry blossom (particularly the Yoshino Cherry, Prunus x yeodensis or the Japanese Apricot, Prunus mume) and then the Camellias. In Autumn there is colouring of the maple leaves. In between we allow ourselves in this country the vibrant colours of dwarf rhododendrons and Azaleas, but the Japanese would be just as content with pruned box, because their priority is structure and form in the garden.
Pines like the Red Pine, Pinus densiflora, the Black Pine, Pinus thunbergii are pruned and distorted to create features. Screening plants can also include bamboos and ground cover is usually just moss. However having said this, there is something inherently Japanese in the look of any plant indigenous to Japan and you will find that if you make a garden using these, there will be something in the atmosphere that is essentially Japanese. Take for instance the trees Cornus controversa variegata, Malus x zumi (a Japanese Crab apple), or the shrubs like ...
Hydrangea macrophylla, the Cotoneasters, Chaenomeles, Fatsias, Kerria, Magnolias, Loniceras, Spiraeas and Viburnum plicatum 'Maresii' (theWedding cake tree). Perennials can include the Japanese Irises, hostas, Primula sieboldii, chrysanthemums, some asters, Peonies, Hemerocallis and Polygonums. This is only a small selection of possibilities but I'm sure it is enough to get you going.
Interesting articles on aquatic plants
Oxygenator Plants .. part of Peter J May's article
Plant watercress problems in garden ponds
Plants For Natural (Vegetable) Pond Filters
Pruning The Water Garden Plants
