Top 10 Japanese Flowers You Can Grow in Your Garden

1 pink flowers in a tree

Have you always been fascinated by Japanese landscape and plants? What if we told you there’s a way to bring some of them to your garden? There are certain Japanese flowers which can grow in gardens in the U.S. as well, as long as you provide them with the proper care. Today, we thought we’d present you with a list of 10 such flowers, and tell you a little bit about each of them.

10 Japanese Flowers You Should Consider Growing

1. Japanese Anemone

One of the prettiest Japanese flowers you can grow in your garden, the Japanese anemone makes for some truly gorgeous cut flowers. Its blooms are white or pink, and they’re cup-shaped. They stand out even more due to the fact that the stems are quite long and thin, and there aren’t many blooms on one stem. This also means you can pair this plant with tall aster varieties and goldenrods, which are also rather tall.

For the growing environment for this type of flower, that it prefers well-drained yet moist soil, as well as full sun up to partial shade. You might want to provide it with plenty of space as well since it tends to spread quite a lot.

2. Aralia Cordata

Another type of flower you wouldn’t think could grow in lower temperatures, the aralia cordata makes for a unique addition to any garden. It has big leaves, which point to its exoticism, as well as green flowers, which grow in racemes. You’ll be able to enjoy their beauty in late summer, and this plant won’t disappoint further on either. That’s because the flowers are followed by purple berries.

The aralia cordata can grow up to 13 feet, which is undeniably impressive for a perennial. Due to its size, we recommend it to people who can afford to sacrifice a lot of space for just one plant. If you consider the uniqueness and special appeal of this flower, you’re not going to regret considering it for your garden.

3. Polygonatum Stenanthum

Speaking of Japanese flowers that require extensive space, the polygonatum stenanthum doesn’t only have tall stems, but also large flowers. The flowers are what make this plant interesting since they’re white and have green stripes. The overall look of this plant is quite sensational, which is why growing it in your garden is an opportunity you shouldn’t miss.

polygonatum stenanthun flowers, japanese flowers

What we’re most amazed by is the fact that it requires low-maintenance. All you need to do is plant it in shaded areas, where the soil drains moderately, but it’s still decently moist. That’s because the polygonatum stenanthum comes from Japan’s cold forests, where it got used to such a growing environment.

4. Japanese Iris

The next flower we’d like to talk about is the Japanese iris, which is somewhat less exotic than the previous plants we’ve discussed, but still a cool and interesting choice for any garden. The best thing about this flower is that you don’t have to worry about spending a lot of time taking care of it. It doesn’t even require well-drained soil since it actually grows better in wet conditions.

One thing you can’t deny about the Japanese iris is that it will draw everyone’s attention with its flowers. You have a wide range of options to choose from, such as blue, purple, or white. The foliage in itself is attractive as well, nicely complementing the blooms.

5. Japanese Tree Peonies

If you’re a fan of peonies, you must have at least one Japanese tree peony in your collection. You might be surprised to find out that Japanese tree peonies thrive in all sorts of growing environments. For instance, as opposed to most flowers, you can plant them in part sun, part shade, or even full shade. This broadens the areas where you can grow this plant, which means you’ll probably manage to find a place for it in your garden.

pink japanese tree peony flowers, japanese flowers

Japanese tree peonies come in multiple colors, and their petals are extremely thin and delicate. This provides them with a fairytale look, ensuring a real treat for the eyes.

6. Japanese Maple

Although technically a tree, there’s no doubt that the main attraction of the Japanese maple is its flowers, which is why we thought we’d include it on our list of Japanese flowers you can grow in your garden. That is not to say that their foliage isn’t also remarkable. Their leaves are finely cut, they have a delicate structure, and they get a lovely shade in fall.

Before planting a Japanese maple in your garden, you should know that they enjoy full sun or partial shade, depending on where you live. If you live in a hot area, where the sun tends to scorch the leaves of the plants, you should avoid planting this type of maple in full sun. At the same time, if you want the leaves’ color to be more intense, you’re going to have to allow more exposure to sunlight.

7. Cherry Tree

The cherry tree, while typically Japanese, has become an extremely popular type of tree in the U.S. as well, and it’s not difficult to see why. In spring, the trees put on quite a show with their countless flowers. The flowers also change their color. For instance, you might notice that when they first bloom, they’re dark pink, while later on, they turn light pink. Eventually, they might actually become white. Some of them also produce cherries, which is yet another interesting aspect to keep in mind.

When it comes to the best places to grow a cherry tree, we must mention soil that drains well, full sun, and moderate temperatures. Extreme cold or heat will damage the cherry tree, and so will strong winds. Other than that, as long as you realize it will need a lot of space to grow and develop properly, you’ll have no issues with your cherry tree.

8. Morning Glory

Morning glories are quite popular in the U.S. But did you know that they’re actually Japanese flowers? One of the main things that attract people to the morning glory flowers is the shape and color of their blooms. The flowers are trumpet-shaped, and they come in a variety of colors, from purple-blue to pink, white, or magenta. Moreover, the leaves are heart-shaped, which only adds to the uniqueness of this plant.

purple morning glories, japanese flowers

The first thing you should know about morning glories is that they need plenty of sun. They also require a sheltered site, as well as well-drained and moderately fertile soil. They are also climbers. This means you’re going to have to provide them with something to climb on.

9. Cosmos

Another popular type of Japanese flower is the cosmos. This flower is grown annually, mostly because of its colorful and showy blooms. The fact that it’s also low-maintenance and perfect as a container or border plant helps as well. Bees, butterflies, and birds love cosmos, and this means they’ll also love your garden. Plus, you can use cosmos as a cut flower and decorate your home with colorful blooms that range from orange to pink, white, maroon, and more.

Cosmos flowers enjoy warm weather and well-drained soil, and they don’t need a lot of care. If you overwater or overfertilize them, you’ll hinder their growth, which will lead to fewer flowers. Finally, remember that they could grow rather tall. As a result, you might have to support them with a fence or a stake. If you’re interested in purchasing a mix of cosmos seeds, you can find a great one here.

10. Japanese Apricot

Finally, the last type of Japanese flowers we want to talk about today are the flowers of the Japanese apricot. Also known as prunus mume, the Japanese apricot is a great example of a plant that you can grow both for its flowers and its fruits. This type of tree can be both deciduous and evergreen, but there’s one thing both types have in common, and that’s their showy flowers. Similar to the cherry tree flowers, the blooms turn a light pink color. In the fall, its foliage is especially pretty. In some cases, it’s accompanied by edible fruits or ornamental bark.

pink apricot flower, japanese flowers

Related to growing environment preferences, the Japanese apricot can grow in full sun or partial shade, and it should be as sheltered as possible. It enjoys moist but well-drained soil, and it’s generally not extremely difficult to maintain.

Summing It All Up

If you’re looking to bring some new additions to your flower garden, and you want to try something more exotic and unique, you should definitely consider a couple of Japanese flowers. As we hope we’ve managed to prove with the list above, there are plenty of options to choose from, each more fascinating than the next. Whether you want to grow an annual, a tree, or a large type of peony, you can find at least one option that suits your needs. As unexpected as it might be to have Japanese flowers growing on foreign soil, the truth is that as long as you follow the instruction that tells you how to care for them, they’ll grow as nicely as they do in their native land.

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