5 popular Summer Flowers in Japanese Garden

Japanese summer season, which has hot and humid, is from June to August. Many tourists head to cool spots and Japanese gardens are one of the best places to cool off and relax. Those gardens have shade trees, ponds and streams that make people cool down, and beautiful flowers attract visiters.

Most garden designers sow summer plants and water plants, which grow on the edge of the pond or in water bowl pot. Here I introduce 5 stunning plants blooming in summer that you should see in Japanese garden.
※ It is based on the flower season in Kyoto city.

Japanese Iris

Many pond gardens have irises which grow in shallow water. It is said that Japanese irises are the most planted flower to grow faster in Japanese garden. The leaves grow up about 50cm(1.6F) in spring and the flowers begin to make beautiful flowers which have pink, white, purple, and yellow in June. The best time to see those fantastic flowers is the dusk when it is a cooler temperature.

Flower season

Early June – Late June

※In some gardens, Lotuses are also planted in the same area. You can come back when they are in bloom.

Hydrangea

Japan has rainy season from late June to middle July, and hydrangeas are known as a rainy season flower. Some gardens, which have many hydrangeas, are sightseeing spots where many tourists visit in this season. The Hydrangeas have the pretty round ball flowers with red, blue and white color. Those blooms do not fall off and keep drying out, therefore visiter can see hydrangea flowers for a long time. At the same time, owner pick hydrangea flowers and float them in water bash, that is beautiful flower idea.

Flower season

Early June – Early July

Cape jasmine

Cape jasmines have glossy leaves and snowy white single or double flowers whose fragrance is very sweet and strong. In addition, their seeds have orange color that had been used as yellow coloring agent since 6th century in Japan. Gardeners cut their shrub into a round or square, because it is easy to be trimmed. If you love a sweat smell, the best time is the dusk when the cape jasmine’s fragrance become stronger.

Flower season

Early June – Late June

Lotas

The peaceful lotuses are famous as the buddhist flower that are usually planted in temple garden. They have beautiful pink and white color; single or double flowers with sweet fragrance and circular shape of leave which are waterproof. Although the flower blooms for only three days, lotuses make a lot of flower at different times during the flower season. Some gardens don’t only plant them in the pond, but also grow in water pot. Lotus flowers open and close each day and the morning time is the best time to see the flowers in full bloom.

Flower season 

Late June – Middle July

※ In this season, water lily, which has floating leaves, also have beautiful floating flower.

Japanese Crepe myrtle

Japanese Crepe myrtle has unique appearance that have arching branches, smooth and slippery barks. They make flower which has beautiful white, pink, purple and red color on new branches and keep for more than 100 days: Japanese name is “百日紅”, that means “100 days red flower”. They bloom best in full sun with ample moisture, thus some Japanese Garden designers plant Japanese crepe myrtles beside of pond. The stunning view of trees which have showy flowers with ponds take our breath away.

Flower season

Late July – Middle September