Zelkova (Keyaki)

Zelkova is a deciduous large tree found in East Asia. The fresh green and autumn leaves are beautiful, have many planted along the streets and in the parks in Japan.

Center of Tokyo city

Zelkova has a long life, the stem will be thick. So it is excellent as well as timber. The timber has a water-resistant, used as building materials, desks, and bowls. Once upon a time farmers had planted zelkova for descendants. So you can see a big zelkova in the outskirts of the rural.

Shining stem of zelkova

In Tokyo, you can see the large zelkova in Omotesando and the famous shrine, they are beautiful. However, unfortunately many places, zelkova is cruelly cut branches. Because Japan is too narrow for zelkova.

Leaf of zelkova

Persimmon tree (Kaki)

Although the persimmon is native to China, it has been planted from the old era in Japan. Sometimes, the species is carried by wild animals, the tree has grown up in the mountains.

Fruits of persimmon

There are many cultivars, shape and taste is different, respectively. Roughly, it is classified as sweet persimmon and bitter persimmon. Naturally sweet persimmon is preferred, however, to grow sweet persimmon is limited to West Japan. Only bitter persimmon  will grow in a cold region, but it will also be an excellent food by hanging out in the sun.

Persimmon tree has beautiful shinny leaves

Persimmon leaves are used in tea of raw materials and sushi. In addition, the juice of bitter persimmon is used to paint for preservatives. And stem of persimmon is used in furniture. Since the application is many, we planted this tree even those who are not interested in the yard, but the fruit of the orange shine in the sky of autumn, is indispensable to the Japanese landscape.

Old house with large persimmon tree

Japanese hackberry (Enoki)

One of the tree that is similar to the zelkova, there is a Japanese hackberry (Enoki). Once Enoki was planted in "Ichri-duka (milestone)," which is made every 4 kms as a mark of the road. For this reason, large enoki can be seen here and there in Japan.

Milestone tree

Nowadays, among the Japanese, "Enoki" mainly means the mushroom occurring in the dead tree. rarely be planted in the garden. But it is often grow naturally from bird droppings, often seen in the garden and park without intention.

This is favorite food of insects

Though It appears to be very sturdy tree, its leaves are very popular in the insect, often become tattered. Larvae of the Japanese country butterfly "Sasakia charonda" is also, like the leaf.

Fruits of Japanese hackberry

Colorful seeds that can be in the summer has a sweet taste, it is possible to eat. And in fall to winter, you can see the tree with yellow leaves along the river even in the major city.

Blanco and Enoki

Nandina (Nann-tenn)

Low tree you see most often, in the narrow streets of Tokyo, it's Nandina.
Nandina (domestica) is believed to have brought over from China, why do you know this tree has been planted in Japan throughout.

This is the sight, you see always in Tokyo alley

Nandina will bear red fruits, from autumn to winter, this red fruits has been considered as auspicious from the Edo period. And, this was considered to have magical power to prevent a fire. In Edo wooden houses are concentrated, fire is the worst of the disaster. So people had planted a cheap and durable this tree. This is the reason, there are many Nandina in Tokyo. It is a relic.

Lucky red fruits

In addition, the leaves of Nandina is believed to have the power to turn off the poison. So It has been planted in the vicinity of the toilet, or served with foods.

Leaves of Nandina

Nandina is also in the mountains. It increases by bird droppings that ate the red fruit. Even as many times chopped, grows again, it is very strong. It is used in the alcove post in the tea room of KINKAKUJI.

It bloom little white flowers in summer 

Japanese beech (Buna)

Beech is one of the yellow leaves are beautiful trees. By now, you can see the leaves golden.
The nature of Japanese beech is the same as the European beech, prefer the cold place.
Place where you can see the most beautiful beech in Japan is "Shirakami-sanchi  (Aomori Prefecture and Akita Prefecture)". There is known as the World Heritage Site.

Yellow leaves of Japanese beech

In the vicinity of Tokyo, the natural beech has decreased due to the influence of global warming and air pollution. But you can see the tree if you go to Nikko and Nagano,and in botanical garden near Tokyo.

White stem and fresh green

Beech is not only yellow leaves, fresh green and white stem is also beautiful. Walking through the forest of beech, made to feel like you are in the plateau.

However, since the seed is a favorite food of the ferocious bear, have to be careful.

Seeds of Japanese beech

Shira-kashi (Evergreen oak)

9 types of oak trees can be seen in the Japanese archipelago.
Among them, "Shirakasi" (Evergreen oak) is the tree that seen many in the east Japan.

Shira-kashi around classical house

Shira-kashi does not have an attractive flower. It does not have so much of features. However, it is durable and easily available, cheap, trees grow well branches and leaves, become blindfold and windbreak . So, it has been planted a lot along the streets, parks, around the house.

Pruned in Japanese style

Its leaves has an elongate shape similar to bamboo. And, the back side is a little white.
In early summer, bloom similar to the chestnut, in the fall can be a small acorn.

Leaves of Shira-kashi

Its wood is hard, so it is used such as the handle of farming tools, wooden sword and more.

If we write Shira-kashi in Chinese characters, use the Chinese character that means "white hard wood".

Acorn of Shira-kashi

Japanese tea tree (Chanoki)

Japanese tea flowers are blooming. Because it is head down, it is difficult to see. However, if　you observe carefully, you can find it pretty. The flowers blooms at a time when other flowers are not so much bloom, so it has been loved from the old days.

flower of tea tree

In general, tea tree is not for appreciation, is practical. As you know, the Japanese pick this leaves for drinking. Old farmer had planted the tea tree on the edge of the field in order to use it.

Terraced fields of tea is a traditional landscape of Japan

And, tea tree has played an important role in the history of the Japanese garden. Narrow dark garden of Wabisabi ,that was created in order to drink the tea, is the origin of the classical Japanese garden, attract a lot of foreign tourists nowadays.

leaves of tea tree

Although Japanese is no longer drink Japanese tea at home than the old days, tea entered the PET bottle is popular, are sold at about the installed vending machine fill the town.

The classic method of steaming tea

Podocarpus (Inu-maki)

Podocarpus is a tree that grows in the seaside of the forest. Has a similar atmosphere to the pine, are pruned in the same way as pine, it may become the leading role of the garden.

Trim as a plurality of balls are arranged at random

The leaves are wider than the pine, since the density of the leaves is high, are pruned in a square, it is also often used as a hedge. For strong sea breeze, the seaside town, is also effective as a windbreak.

If the old fence, It's very solid, people can be on it

In the same way as Japanese umbrella pine , it has been named "Maki"in Japanese, but it is totally different. In Japan, in order to indicate that the quality is inferior, we use the word "dog (Inu)" as a prefix. Podocarpus are considered inferior in appearance than Japanese umbrella pine , it has been referred to as the "Inu-maki".

Fruits of Podocarpus

However, fruits of Japanese umbrella pine is pine cones. It is hard to eat them, but the fruits of Podocarpus are edible. Two-color fruit of that ripen in autumn, is a strange shape, but the red part is sweet and delicious.

Unfortunately, in the case of the fence, too pruned, you can not find this treat, to look for abandoned Podocarpus, you'll be able to eat it.

Podocarpus in wild style

Weeping willow (Shidare-yanagi)

Weeping willow is native to China, but it is a tree that can help to make the Japanese landscape. It can be seen in such Eateries as called "Ryoutei", old moat around the castle , along Kyoto river and more.

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In front of imperial palace

In Japan, you can see more than 30 kinds of willow tree, but the majority of the Japanese are thinking, weeping willow is that it is representative of the Japanese willow.

Leaves of weeping willow

There are a few of the superstition about the weeping willow. One of them, is that planting a weeping willow, there people gather. That is why to plant it in front of the restaurant.

Another is that , a ghost (woman wearing a white kimono) is to come out under the trees of the weeping willow. For this reason, many Japanese have a scary image to the weeping willow.Japanese ghost are fluffy, it will match the movement of the leaves of the weeping willow.

Is anyone under the tree?

Looking at the weeping willow, it will be refreshing feeling. In particular it is exceptional Looking at the riverside in the summer. Not only the coolness of the leaves fluttering in the wind, seems to become extra cool because there is the image of a female ghost.

However, beautiful flowers bloom in spring

Japanese cypress (Hinoki)

Many Japanese cypress has been planted in Japanese mountain. The number is second to Japanese cedar. Because It is excellent as timber.

Japanese  cypress is in a conical shape, if there is no hindrance,

Japanese cypress wood is white to the core, is good-looking, with a refreshing scent, is strong in the water. You'll see if you come to the hot springs in Japan, why wooden bath tub is made of this wood.

Bark is peeled off easily, become the material of the roof

In addition, there is a bactericidal action on the leaves of Japanese cypress. For this reason, in the hope that effect, in a dish of Sashimi, We serve the leaves of Japanese cypress along with the fish.(Note, leaves can not eat !)

A lot of leaves of similar shape, not a characteristic

Japan's people of old age, made a fire with the leaves and branches. This tree is easy to burn, Japanese name "Hinoki" means "fire tree".

It is a familiar tree in Japanese, but it is a practical tree, rarely able to use in the garden in appreciation purpose. On behalf of it, we plant the varieties of horticultural.

One of the cultivars "Ito-hiba"

Katsura tree

Walking through the forest at this time, occasionally, I feel the drifting sweet smell. It is a scent that Katsura tree is deciduous. It is a smell like caramel, but not everyone is aware of.

yellow leaves in autumn

Katsura tree is a unique to East Asia. In Japan,normally seen in humid mountains, if the condition is good, It will be a big tree of height of 30 meters.For very long pole can be taken, was a material, such as a dugout canoe.

For reference, Katsura tree in the United States of the Hudson River, was across from Japan at the end of the 19th century.

Leaves of Katsura tree is heart-shaped

Katsura tree has beautiful yellow leaves in autumn. Then, similar to the Cercis chinensis, Linden and Marubanoki, its leaves are cute heart-shaped. Its appeal is reviewed, it is growing in popularity. Especially recently,  we have an increasing number of cases to plant as a symbol tree,in the private garden and along the urban dry road.

Katsura trees at the center of dried-up Tokyo

Actually, Katsura tree is not suitable for the small garden and dry area, I am worried about their future.

Katsura that behaved well withstand

Mantenboshi (Doudan tsutsuji)

There is a lot of beautiful trees of autumn leaves in Japan. Mantenboshi is one of the trees that are seen easily among them. Natural distribution area's mountains of rocks, however, are planted many in the city of the road along and parks.

Autumn leaves of Mantenboshi

Regularly split the branches, the leaves of the diamond is, it is a feature of Mantenboshi. Light green of the fresh green and flowers such as bloom blueberries in the spring is also beautiful.

Flowers of Mantenboshi

Growth enough to be used in the bonsai is slow, strong to pruning, it is why this tree is planted a lot. Form of a branch is similar to the basic part of the old lighthouse. So, the Japanese call this tree, refers to the lighthouse as "doudann-tsutsuji".

lighthouse upsidedown

Japanese Holly (Inu tsuge)

Japanese holly (Inutsuge) is a shrub that does not have any features. The leaves are small and dark green throughout the year. Flowers in summer does not stand out. Fruits that can be in the winter in the black, not noticeable from a distance.

Hedge of Japanese holly

However, it is essential as a shrub to create a "frame" of the Japanese garden. Sometimes it is as a hedge, sometimes it is pruned in geometric pattern.

At the Imperial Palace / Tokyo

In the Japanese garden, similar to the same kind of role Macranthum azalea (Satsuki).
However, the leaves of Japanese holly is more green and harder.

Leaves and flowers of Japanese Holly

The reason for Japanese holly is often used in Japanese garden, it growth is slow, the form is difficult to change, flowers and fruit is not conspicuous, is that it does not interfere with the main character (such as pine and plum)

Rarely take center stage

Japanese aucuba (Aoki)

Japanese aucuba (Aoki) is a tree that has spread to Europe in the garden.
However, originally a Japanese tree. It was over the sea at the end of the 18th century.
Strong in the shade, easy to grow, the leaves all year round shiny clean, These are the charm of Japanese aucuba.

Japanese aucuba near by Japanese lanterns

The common people of the Edo era in Japan,were crazy to this tree, they were breeding various aucuba, enjoyed the pattern of various leaf. And, trees red fruit is regarded as good luck, they were glad to see the red fruit of aucuba.

Fruits of aucuba

Japanese few planting aucuba in the garden nowadays. Rather than the garden to see aucuba, often in the dim forest. Because birds are scattered sowing the seeds of this trees.
Garden there is a aucuba, just garden of the house there are the elderly. What about in Europe.

Aucuba with classical private house