Flowering Shrubs 🌸
Azalea (ツツジ, Tsutsuji)
Blooming in spring with vibrant pink, red, and white flowers, often used in Japanese gardens.
Camellia (椿, Tsubaki)
A winter-blooming shrub with glossy leaves and delicate, rose-like flowers in various colors.
Hydrangea (紫陽花, Ajisai)
Known for its round clusters of flowers that change color based on soil pH, popular in June.
Kerria Japonica (山吹, Yamabuki)
A deciduous shrub with cheerful, bright yellow blooms in spring.
Evergreen Shrubs 🌿
Japanese Boxwood (ツゲ, Tsuge)
A dense, slow-growing shrub commonly used for hedges and bonsai.
Satsuki Azalea (サツキ, Satsuki)
A variety of azalea known for its compact size and late-spring blooms.
Podocarpus (イヌマキ, Inumaki)
A versatile evergreen shrub often pruned into shapes for traditional gardens.
Ornamental Shrubs 🌾
Japanese Barberry (メギ, Megi)
A thorny shrub with small leaves that turn vibrant red in autumn.
Spirea (シモツケ, Shimotsuke)
A shrub with delicate, feathery flowers in white or pink, often found in ornamental gardens.
Nandina (南天, Nanten)
Known as "heavenly bamboo," it features bright red berries and leaves that turn red in winter.
Traditional and Cultural Favorites 🏯
Pine Shrubs (松, Matsu)
Miniature pine varieties are essential in Japanese landscaping and symbolize longevity.
Japanese Laurel (アオキ, Aoki)
A shade-loving shrub with green leaves speckled with yellow, used in shady garden corners.
Japanese Quince (木瓜, Boke)
A deciduous shrub with bright red or pink flowers that appear before the leaves in early spring.
Tea Plant (茶, Cha)
The source of traditional green tea, it is often cultivated as a small shrub.
Seasonal and Scenic Highlights 🌺🍂
Pampas Grass (ススキ, Susuki)
Though technically a grass, it’s used as a shrub-like ornamental plant in autumn displays.
Maple Shrubs (紅葉, Momiji)
Dwarf varieties of Japanese maple add brilliant fall colors to garden landscapes.
