Types of Boxwood Species for Japanese Gardens

Aspects of Japanese Gardens

• The Japanese garden is an ancient art form. It must convey certain aspects and qualities that are very specific to the proper design of the garden. These six qualities are spaciousness, tranquility, artifice, antiquity, water courses and panoramas. Each of these aspects must be part of the design and flow seamlessly into each other. A well-designed Japanese garden provides height, color, form and texture, ground cover and masses of shrubs called tamamono. Boxwood shrubs work well to fulfill the tamamono, or low-plant, requirement.

Japanese Boxwood

• Boxwood performs best in temperate areas. Japan has a very temperate climate with few extremes which is ideal for the plants. The little leaf box, Buxus microphylla, is native to Japan and is used in garden displays. The little leaf boxwood has a finer texture than the big leaf varieties which blurs and blends best with the harmony of a Japanese garden. The shrub is only 3 to 4 feet tall and has golden yellow foliage in winter. Some of the varieties of microphylla found in Japan are kusa-tsuge, ko-tsuge and hime tsuge.

Common Boxwood

• Common boxwood is an extremely hardy variety of the shrub. It establishes quickly but is also easy to transplant. Common boxwood can get up to 6 to 15 feet tall, but it readily accepts pruning and shearing. It produces very tiny yellow flowers that are unobtrusive but sweetly scented. Common boxwood is also used for its wood as chopsticks, combs and other small wooden items. The versatility of this boxwood makes it ideal for planting under larger trees or as a massed planting.

Korean Boxwood

• Korean boxwood is not picky about its location and can be used in the Japanese garden in a full sun or partial shade location. The small shrubs require annual shearing to keep the foliage looking its best and forcing compact bushy growth. Korean boxwood grows in a low habit with a slightly mounding quality. This type of boxwood is a deep emerald green all year around and has few pests or disease problems. The plants are easy to find at most nurseries.