Original Japanese Landscaping for California Craftsman Homes

Creating Tranquility

• Japanese-influenced landscaping fits well with these early bungalows. Establishing a tranquil environment is at the heart of a Japanese garden plan. To achieve this effect, include these basic elements: pathways, varied foliage and water features. Paths may be constructed of earth, wood or stone. Layered plantings of foliage with varied hues and textures, accented by seasonal color, promote a soothing atmosphere. And, most important, the purifying element of water, whether in a fountain, pond or manmade stream, boosts the sense of tranquility through sight and sound. The yards of craftsman homes are usually relatively small, and Japanese gardens, spare and compact, can make a big impression in a diminutive space.

Blending Asian and Craftsman Styles

• One landscape architect who renovated her own California bungalow and added a Japanese garden told Sunset magazine you should carry over some of the elements of the house into the grounds. To match the longevity of the home, create the illusion of age by including mature trees. Stick with earthy colors, but allow subtle touches of color with seasonal blooms. Rely on texture to add interest. Fill the landscape with fine-leafed plants, but complete the beds with large-leafed varieties for contrast.

Foliage Plants

• Evergreen trees, such as the Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii), the mugo pine (Pinus mugo) or the Canary Islands juniper (Juniperus californica), all grow to 30 feet or more high and make good background plants in a Japanese landscape. Their preferred climates are similar. Black pine thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 to 10, mugo pine in zones 6 to 10a and the juniper in zones 5 through 10. Of a much different texture, the Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) excels as a lacy-leafed specimen plant in USDA zones 5 to 10. Use mondo grass (Ophiopogon spp.) as a ground cover beside pathways through the garden in USDA zones 7 to 10. Less spiky than mondo grass but flourishing in the same USDA zones, the feathery lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina) can fill in between tall and short plants.

Flowering Plants

• Bearded irises (Iris spp.) produce beautiful blooms for a short period in spring, but their sword-like leaves supply texture to the landscape throughout the year. Grow them in USDA zones 3 to 10. Well-suited for California gardens, Rhododendron "Rubicon," "Sapphire" and "Taurus" hybrids flourish in USDA zones 9 through 10a. Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) twining around a wooden arbor contributes visually, as well as aromatically, to an Asian-inspired garden. It is recommended for USDA zones 5 to 10.