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10 plants worth knowing

Japan

Forests cover about two-thirds of Japan, making it one of the most heavily forested developed countries. The archipelago, stretching from north to south, holds the subarctic spruce and fir forests of Hokkaido, the beech and maple forests of Honshu, the evergreen laurel forests of the south and the subtropical forests and mangroves of Okinawa. Plants play a huge role in the culture – from viewing cherry blossom (hanami) and autumn maples (momijigari) to bonsai and ikebana.

Hover over a plant to see on the map where it grows.

where it grows

plants in our catalogue; native and endemic according to WCVP (Kew) · source
  1. Japanese cherry 1

    tree · Unofficial national flower of Japan

    cultivated

    Japanese cherry

    Prunus serrulata

    All of Japan follows the sakura bloom – every day meteorologists report how the “cherry blossom front” is moving north.
  2. Florist’s chrysanthemum 2

    flower · Imperial Seal of Japan (sixteen-petalled chrysanthemum)

    cultivated

    Florist’s chrysanthemum

    Chrysanthemum × morifolium

    The sixteen-petalled chrysanthemum is the emblem of the Japanese emperor – it appears, among other places, on the cover of the Japanese passport.
  3. Japanese maple 3

    tree

    native

    Japanese maple

    Acer palmatum

    In autumn, Japanese maples turn temples and mountains across Japan into a fiery spectacle of red – the season of momijigari.
  4. Japanese cedar 4

    tree

    native

    Japanese cedar

    Cryptomeria japonica

    The Japanese cedar, or sugi, surrounds shrines with venerable avenues, and the oldest trees on Yakushima are thousands of years old.
  5. Princess tree 5

    tree · Emblem of the Government of Japan (go-shichi no kiri paulownia)

    cultivated

    Princess tree

    Paulownia tomentosa

    Paulownia leaves and flowers form the emblem of the Japanese government – it appears on the 500-yen coin, among other places.
  6. Japanese apricot 6

    tree

    cultivated

    Japanese apricot

    Prunus mume

    Before the Japanese fell for sakura, they admired flowering ume – and salted umeboshi fruits are still added to rice and onigiri today.
  7. Japanese wisteria 7

    climber

    nativeendemic

    Japanese wisteria

    Wisteria floribunda

    Purple racemes up to a metre long hang from pergolas of flowering Japanese wisteria – in May they draw flower lovers like pilgrims.
  8. Bigleaf hydrangea 8

    shrub

    nativeendemic

    Bigleaf hydrangea

    Hydrangea macrophylla

    In Japan hydrangeas bloom in the tsuyu rainy season – when the temples of Kamakura turn into blue and pink gardens.
  9. Rice 9

    crop

    cultivated

    Rice

    Oryza sativa

    In Japan rice is more than a cereal – it is made into sake and mochi, and the emperor himself plants and harvests rice in a palace paddy every year.
  10. Tea plant 10

    crop

    cultivated

    Tea plant

    Camellia sinensis

    Japanese tea bushes give sencha and powdered matcha – the latter is the heart of the sadō tea ceremony.