Best trees for a Japanese garden – plant these 7 species for beauty, balance and harmony, say expert landscapers

Japanese gardens are popular for many reasons, not least the tranquility, harmony and beauty associated with them. These qualities can be applied to any yard in a myriad of ways.

If you are keen to emulate some Japanese garden ideas in your own backyard, the easiest place to start is with some new tree plantings. Of course your hardiness zone will have a bearing on what you can grow, but there are many beautiful trees to choose from.

Even some of the less hardy species, such as beautiful Japanese maples, can be grown in pots and containers - and sheltered over winter if they can't be grown in the ground in your region. There are hardy native alternatives too. Discover seven of the best trees for a Japanese garden, according to expert landscapers and Japanese garden designers.

7 of the best trees for a Japanese garden

Selecting trees for a Japanese garden, isn't necessarily about choosing species from a specific region. Although, that will help to create the aesthetic. It's a process of creating beauty and balance.

'Serenity is found in the harmonization of elements, not in any individual item,' says Hugo Torii, garden curator, Portland Japanese Garden. 'When we prune a maple, for instance, we don’t just look at the maple - we look at the whole of the space it is growing in.

'So, firstly, the space should be a place where you will find pleasure and comfort. After that, it is important to pick trees that will survive. So consider sunlight and soil for the health of the plants.

'The plantings can be mixed. At Portland Japanese Garden, we are surrounded by tall, native trees like Douglas firs that are not found in Japan. However, they contribute to the harmony of the space.

'Choosing trees that add the right balance and charm to the space is important, but don’t ignore financial considerations - stay within budget too.'

Hugo Torii

Hugo Torii is Garden Curator at Portland Japanese Garden, where he oversees a team of gardeners and helps to keep the space true to its original intent and design, while also allowing it to grow and evolve.

1. Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)

With their spectacular fall foliage–which turns into a rich array of orange, red and maroon fiery colors– Japanese maple trees are a firm favorite for many gardeners. These beautiful trees are also a staple in Japanese garden ideas. Native to Japan, China and Korea, they are part of the Acer family, with hundreds of cultivars, from dwarf and weeping species to variegated varieties.

'The acer palmatum adds gracious lines to the garden and different colors throughout the year, until its leaves drop,' says Hugo Torii. 'This tree tends to grow well in hardiness zone 6-9, and likes a neutral to slightly acidic soil, with good drainage. It will require some light shade, regular watering and pruning-with big cuts during the winter, and smaller cuts around late summer.'

These trees tend to be slow-growers, so they are highly suitable for small Japanese garden ideas. In colder zones it's still possible to enjoy the beauty of Japanese Maples–they can be grown in a container garden, as long as they are sheltered and protected from severe cold weather during the winter.

This red Japanese Maple Tree (Acer Palmatum), from Fast-Growing Trees has beautiful bright red foliage that changes with the seasons for year round interest. There are also a number of native alternatives to Japanese maples, which tend to require less maintenance and provide more food sources for birds and other pollinators.

2. Buddhist pine (Podocarpus macrophyllus; inumaki)

Also known as Yew Plum Pine, this needled evergreen tree originates from mountainous areas of Japan and southern China, and is a popular addition in Japanese garden ideas. Buddhist pine is a slow-growing conifer, and will provide winter interest with its fragrant evergreen foliage. However, these trees can grow tall, so do check you have a suitable space, or look for similar smaller species.

'Podocarpus macrophyllus (inumaki) are often used in Japanese gardens, and can be structurally stylized and trimmed into forms,' says Hugo Torii. 'They are robust in hardiness zone 8-11 and will require regular watering. Plant them in well draining soil, with sun and shade for best results.'

This shrubby Yew Podocarpus from Nature Hill's, not only offers year-round color, it grows in a natural pyramidal form, so requires less pruning than other similar evergreens. It's also a good choice for garden privacy ideas.

3. Flowering crab apple (Malus Spp.)

Another element we associate with Japanese gardens is Sakura, the spectacular flowering cherry tree season, which attracts visitors from all over the world who come to see the blossom. These trees are beautiful, but planting non-native weeping cherry species in your yard provides little support for birds and other pollinating wildlife. However, there are numerous alternative fast-growing flowering trees, with a similar aesthetic, which will grow easily across many parts of the US.

One tree with beautiful blossom that Catherine Marsh, horticulturalist at Anderson Japanese Gardens in Illinois recommends is the flowering crab apple (Malus Spp.), which is suitable for zones 4-7 and blooms in April or May, and fruits in late summer.

'Malus species are drought-tolerant, once established and disease-resistant, plus there is plenty of choice of leaf color, flower color, fruit color and size,' says Catherine. 'These trees do well in rich, acidic (ideally 5.5-6.5 pH), moist, but well-draining soil, with full sun. They will need to be watered regularly until they are established. Although, they require little pruning, which can be done after spring flowers.'

The Sargent flowering crab apple tree from Fast-Growing Trees is a compact variety, with snowy white blossom in spring and bright red fruit in the fall, which attracts robins, mockingbirds and hummingbirds.

Catherine Marsh

Catherine Marsh is a Horticulturist at Anderson Japanese Gardens. Her responsibilities include garden maintenance, pruning, and ikebana. She also leads a Horticultural therapy initiative with Rosecrance, a local substance abuse facility and has presented about these nature-based programs nationally. She’s an Adjunct Professor in Horticulture at Kishwaukee College and loves to talk about the importance of connection to nature.

4. Serviceberry (Amelanchier Grandiflora)

Still with blossom in mind, another beautiful tree that features in Japanese garden ideas, is the Serviceberry, native to North America, Europe and Asia. This species blooms in late April with white flowers, produces red fruit in June, and follows with spectacular orange fall color for an ever-changing seasonal showstopper.

'The Serviceberry tree can be grown across zones 4-9, also in rich, acidic, moist, well-drained soil,' says Catherine. 'It likes sun to part-shade, although the more sun it gets, the more fruit you get- and the fruit is delicious.

'I recommend pruning this tree in the fall-if you prune after spring flowers, you get less fruit. It will need to be watered regularly during the establishment period, and will also require water during droughts.'

5. Cornelian cherry dogwood (Cornus mas)

Producing clusters of small yellow star-shaped flowers, this spring-blooming tree (or shrub) is native to Europe and Asia, although there are many native dogwood trees in the US too. Its beautiful green foliage appears in summer followed by dark-red fruits, which attracts many birds. It can grow up to 25 feet, although smaller cultivars are available.

'The Cornelian cherry dogwood has a very upright, almost columnar habit,' so requires little pruning,' says Catherine. 'It likes to grow in rich, moist, well-drained soil-too much moisture is detrimental to the plant. Give it sun to part-shade and water it regularly until it is established, then it will only require water during drought.'

6. Star Magnolia tree (Magnolia Stellata)

Star Magnolia trees, with their spectacular blossom, frequently feature in Japanese gardens. These beautiful flowering trees are also among the first to bloom in spring, so as well as providing subtle interest with their pretty white flowers, they will attract and feed pollinators too.

This variety of Magnolia is one of the earliest to bloom in the late winter to early spring and is quite the showstopper as a result.

Star Magnolias have a very interesting structural form as they grow and their white colored flower fits well with the Japanese garden style, as they tend not to have bold loud colors as a part of their aesthetic.

7. Japanese flowering cherry tree (Prunus x yedoensis 'Akebono')

Beautiful flowering cherry trees full of delicate pink or white blossom in the spring are synonymous with Japanese gardens. Most of these trees put on a spectacular show of fiery leaf color in the fall too. If you're keen to include one or two of these trees in your garden ideas, look out for those species most suited to your USDA hardiness zone.

'The Japanese garden aesthetic often has flowering cherries contributing to its design. Their pale pink to white flowers fit the color palette of Japanese gardens beautifully. The Akebono variety has showy pale pink blossoms that offer a celebration of spring's arrival.

Whether you go for the full Japanese garden aesthetic, or just a hint of it, any of the trees outlined above are sure to add beauty to your yard. When planting them, ensure they have adequate space to grow, and avoid any power lines, overhead cables or neighboring property lines. If you're short on outside space, consider flowering trees for pots. Once your trees are established, you can look forward to a changing show of color throughout the seasons.