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