Plants

The Japanese show a natural ability to interpret the charm of plants and flowers in order to express their joys and pains. Their communion with nature manifests itself through an elaborate symbolism and that is why their interest for the plant realm has become a real passion.

Plants are associated with moving throughts and the universal forms of life.

The care given to plants in a Japanese garden is like that given to bonsai trees: living plants are shaped to the exact form needed fot the symbolic or graphic effect one desires.

SERVICEBERRY (ZAI-FURI BOKU)
In spring, the serviceberry is a charming sight, with its masses of white flowers. It is considered a symbol of youth in Japan.

In fall, it is remarkable for its gold and scarlet foliage and tiny blue berries.

Winter is the perfect backdrop for the silvery bark of the serviceberry, whose year-round attractions make it one of the stars of this garden.

PINE (MATSU)
Our pine trees are pruned regularly, to keep their shapes in harmony with the surroundings. Some have an airy silhouette with widespread branches, others are dense and compact, while still others lean over as if battered by the wind.

The pine grove next to the Pavilion adds to the intimacy of the Garden. It creates a quiet, cosy screen that shields visitors from outside distractions.

JAPANESE MAPLE (MOMIJI)
The Japanese maple is much appreciated for its lacy leaves and magnificent autumn colours, making it a favourite in Japanese garden design.

The Japanese maples in this garden are taken indoors when winter comes, and brought back outdoors in spring, to spare them the rigours of our Montreal winters.

They are gradually being replaced with Amur maples, a hardier species. The Amur maples are allowed to grow naturally, without pruning, as is the practice with MOMIJI in Japan.

LOTUS (HASU)
The lotus, or "flower of Buddha", is considered a divine and sacred plant. Resting on the placid surface of the pond, it is a perfect aid to contemplation.

The lotus flower, with its lovely, huge corolla, blooms in summer to offer a fleeting vision of delicate shades of pink and white.

Unlike the water lily, which floats on the surface, the lotus is supported by a strong stem anchored in the bottom of the pond.

IRIS (AIRISU)
Irises are important members of this garden. They flower from late May to mid-July, in soft tones of pink, blue and white.

Many species of iris are represented here, including Iris ensata or HANA-SHOBU, remarkable for its huge flowers. The delicacy and graceful bearing of this plant are perfect examples of the quest for simple and refined beauty in Japanese art.

SHRUB PEONY (BOTAN)
Shrub peonies originated in China and were introduced to Japan in the 8th century. They flower in late spring.

A huge variety of peony cultivars has been obtained by hybridization. Their flowers, in hues of pink, mauve and yellow, last only a few days.

These plants require considerable attention and winter protection. Peonies are a symbol of prosperity, because at one time only wealthy Japanese could afford to have them in their gardens.

HORSETAIL (TAKUSA)
This plant is native to Québec and lives in marshy environments. Here it is grown as a substitute for bamboo, which is often featured in Japanese gardens, but is not hardy enough to withstand the harsh Montréal winters.

The horsetail's simple, pure lines make it a clever stand-in for masses of bamboo, allowing the Garden to preserve its Oriental feeling.

Horsetail is also frequently used in Japanese floral art, IKEBANA.

CRABAPPLE (HIME-RINGO)
The crabapple's abundant white and pink flowers in spring symbolize youth and renewal.

Here it has been used instead of Japanese cherry, which is not hardy enough to withstand the extreme temperatures of the Montréal climate.

In Japan, people celebrate the arrival of spring with annual picnics, OHANAMI, beneath flowering cherry trees. We have perpetuated this tradition in Montréal, under the flowering crabapples in the Japanese Garden.

RHODODENDRON (TSUTSUJI)
In springtime, the Japanese Garden is ablaze with the bright pinks, reds, purples and whites of rhododendron blossoms. These charming flowers, with their delicate petals, symbolize fragile and ephemeral beauty.

In summer, the flowers give way to the waxy and lustrous foliage of certain cultivars. The use of compact specimens makes it possible to create varying heights and depths, and the illusion of a miniature mountainous and wooded landscape.

In Japan, azaleas and their more delicate foliage are preferred to rhododendrons, since they are more tolerant of pruning.