Japanese Garden Evergreen Plants
Conifers for Year Round Color in a Meditation Zen Garden
These lovely evergreen conifers make great additions to a Japanese reflection garden because of the interesting form and year round color they provide the landscape.
Juniper (Juniperus communis) – Charming evergreen shrubs, these conifers are often used in a Japanese garden to provide color year round and give structure to a meditation garden. Many juniper cultivars are available in a variety of colors, forms and sizes. Most junipers produce attractive blue berries that are not only used as a flavoring for gin alcoholic drinks but also used to produce an essential oil helpful for relieving muscle tension. Juniper shrubs need full sun and are drought tolerant once established.
- 'Effusa' – Zones 2-7. A prostrate growing shrub commonly used as a ground cover, this juniper grows only about 12-18” tall but will spread anywhere from 4' to 6' wide.
- 'Gold Cone' – Zones 5-7. Golden foliage in the spring through summer months makes this juniper a rare treat for conifer gardeners and will add a splash of color to the Japanese garden. A beautiful upright shaped shrub that grows 3-5' tall in 10 years. The winter foliage color of this juniper deepens to a blue-green color.
- 'Depressa Aurea' – Zones 2-7. The foliage of this juniper is golden, nearly orange in the fall and deepens in the winter as well. This juniper is a broad, low-growing juniper that could be used as a foundation plant as well.
Scott's Pine (Pinus sylvestris) – A beautiful evergreen pine tree, Scott's pine was commonly called “Scotch pine” for many years. While the species grows up to 100' tall after many years there are several dwarf cultivars available that are perfect for rock gardens, containers or Japanese gardens. This pine tree is often available as a commercially grown Christmas tree but the species would not be suitable for most small garden spaces. Scott's pine does not tolerate overly hot summers and will typically do poorly south of zone 7 or 8.
- 'Hillside Creeper' – Zones 2-8. Another prostrate evergreen tree, this cultivar grows only about 2' tall and will spread about 6-8' wide over the first 3 or 4 years. Looks nice growing near a large boulder or in a raised rock garden, making this pine tree a great choice for a Japanese garden.
- 'Glauca Nana' – Zones 4-7. This Scott's pine will tolerate part shade and will grow only 5-8' tall in over 10 years. A beautifully compact globe shaped shrub with blue-green foliage that will provide year round color in a small garden space, large container or meditation garden.
- 'Viridis Compacta' – Zones 3-7. This dwarf Scott's pine has contorted branches that create a unique silhouette that adds lots of interest to the garden. The foliage of this conifer is a nice green color year round and the oval shaped silhouette adds a pleasing look to the Japanese garden.
