Garden plants for Japan
281 plants that appear on garden plant lists for Japan: vegetables, herbs, fruit, flowers, shrubs and trees that gardeners there commonly grow, native or introduced. Each links to a growing guide with spacing, sun, water, hardiness, toxicity and sources.
Japan spans more than one climate. Being on this list does not mean a plant suits your own site: check its hardiness and water needs against your local conditions, and avoid plants listed as invasive in your area.
Plan a garden with these plants â
Vegetables (44)
- Bell pepper Capsicum annuum
- Bok choy Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis
- Broccoli Brassica oleracea var. italica
- Buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentum
- Bush bean Phaseolus vulgaris
- Cabbage Brassica oleracea var. capitata
- Carrot Daucus carota subsp. sativus
- Cauliflower Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
- Cherry tomato Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme
- Chili pepper Capsicum annuum (hot types)
- Chinese yam (nagaimo) Dioscorea polystachya · invasive in some regions
- Common ice plant (crystalline ice plant) Mesembryanthemum crystallinum · invasive in some regions
- Crown daisy (shungiku) Glebionis coronaria
- Cucumber Cucumis sativus
- Daikon Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus
- Deodeok (bonnet bellflower) Codonopsis lanceolata
- Eggplant (aubergine) Solanum melongena
- Fuki (Japanese butterbur) Petasites japonicus
- Garden pea Pisum sativum
- Garlic Allium sativum
- Greater burdock (gobo) Arctium lappa
- Komatsuna Brassica rapa var. perviridis
- Konjac (devilâs tongue) Amorphophallus konjac
- Lettuce Lactuca sativa
- Minari (water dropwort) Oenanthe javanica
- Mizuna Brassica rapa var. japonica
- Muskmelon (cantaloupe) Cucumis melo
- Napa cabbage Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis
- Onion Allium cepa
- Potato Solanum tuberosum
- Pumpkin Cucurbita maxima / C. pepo
- Radish Raphanus sativus
- Soybean (edamame) Glycine max
- Spinach Spinacia oleracea
- Sweet corn Zea mays var. saccharata
- Sweet potato Ipomoea batatas
- Sword bean (tua phra) Canavalia gladiata
- Taro Colocasia esculenta · invasive in some regions
- Tomato Solanum lycopersicum
- Turnip Brassica rapa subsp. rapa
- Wasabi Eutrema japonicum
- Watercress Nasturtium officinale
- Welsh onion (scallion) Allium fistulosum
- Zucchini (courgette) Cucurbita pepo
Herbs (15)
- Basil Ocimum basilicum
- Chives Allium schoenoprasum
- Coriander (cilantro) Coriandrum sativum
- Fish mint (dokudami, rau diáșżp cĂĄ) Houttuynia cordata
- Garlic chives Allium tuberosum
- Ginger Zingiber officinale
- Japanese indigo (ai, dyerâs knotweed) Persicaria tinctoria
- Korean mint (baechohyang) Agastache rugosa
- Mint Mentha spicata
- Mitsuba Cryptotaenia japonica
- Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris · invasive in some regions
- Myoga ginger Zingiber mioga
- Parsley Petroselinum crispum
- Perilla (shiso) Perilla frutescens · invasive in some regions
- Vietnamese balm (kinh giá»i) Elsholtzia ciliata
Fruit (20)
- Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum
- Chinese chestnut Castanea mollissima
- Chocolate vine (akebi) Akebia quinata · invasive in some regions
- Citron (incl. Buddhaâs hand) Citrus medica
- Dwarf apple tree Malus domestica
- Five-flavour berry (omija) Schisandra chinensis
- Grapevine Vitis vinifera
- Hardy kiwi Actinidia arguta · invasive in some regions
- Haskap (honeyberry) Lonicera caerulea
- Japanese persimmon Diospyros kaki
- Japanese plum Prunus salicina
- Japanese raisin tree (kenponashi) Hovenia dulcis · invasive in some regions
- Kolomikta kiwi (variegated kiwi vine) Actinidia kolomikta
- Kumquat Citrus japonica
- Loquat Eriobotrya japonica · invasive in some regions
- Mandarin orange Citrus reticulata
- Nashi pear (Asian pear) Pyrus pyrifolia
- Strawberry Fragaria x ananassa
- Yangmei (Chinese bayberry, yamamomo) Morella rubra
- Yuzu Citrus junos
Flowers (74)
- Air plant (blushing tillandsia) Tillandsia ionantha
- Albany pitcher plant Cephalotus follicularis
- Astilbe Astilbe x arendsii
- Baby blue eyes Nemophila menziesii
- Baby rubber plant (blunt-leaved peperomia) Peperomia obtusifolia
- Balloon flower Platycodon grandiflorus
- Bearded iris Iris germanica
- Bigleaf ligularia (leopard plant) Ligularia dentata
- Blackberry lily (leopard lily, shaga) Iris domestica
- Bleeding heart Lamprocapnos spectabilis
- Cape sundew Drosera capensis · invasive in some regions
- China aster Callistephus chinensis
- Chinese evergreen Aglaonema commutatum
- Chinese monkshood (Carmichaelâs aconite) Aconitum carmichaelii
- Chocolate cosmos Cosmos atrosanguineus
- Christmas cactus (Thanksgiving cactus, crab cactus) Schlumbergera truncata
- Clematis 'Jackmanii' Clematis x jackmanii
- Cobra lily (California pitcher plant) Darlingtonia californica
- Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus
- Daylily Hemerocallis fulva · invasive in some regions
- Easter lily Lilium longiflorum
- Emerald ripple peperomia Peperomia caperata
- English lavender Lavandula angustifolia
- Fairy fan-flower (scaevola) Scaevola aemula
- Fan columbine (miyama-odamaki) Aquilegia flabellata
- Flaming Katy (floristâs kalanchoe) Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
- Floristâs cyclamen Cyclamen persicum
- Four-season orchid (jian lan, sword-leaved cymbidium) Cymbidium ensifolium
- French marigold Tagetes patula
- Garden chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum x morifolium
- Garden pansy Viola x wittrockiana
- Garden rose Rosa x hybrida
- Giant carrion flower (starfish flower) Stapelia gigantea
- Hardy water lily (Marliac hybrids) Nymphaea Ă marliacea
- Heartleaf philodendron Philodendron hederaceum
- Hyacinth orchid (shiran) Bletilla striata
- Japanese anemone Anemone hupehensis
- Japanese iris Iris ensata
- Japanese primrose (kurinsĆ) Primula japonica
- Lanceleaf coreopsis (tickseed) Coreopsis lanceolata · invasive in some regions
- Leopard plant (tsuwabuki) Farfugium japonicum
- Lily Lilium
- Liverleaf (hepatica) Hepatica nobilis
- Million bells (calibrachoa) Calibrachoa parviflora
- Morning glory Ipomoea purpurea
- Night-scented lily (giant upright elephant ear) Alocasia odora
- Noble dendrobium Dendrobium nobile
- Ominaeshi (golden lace, Patrinia) Patrinia scabiosifolia
- Orange coneflower (black-eyed Susan âGoldsturmâ) Rudbeckia fulgida
- Orchid primula (Vialâs primrose) Primula vialii
- Panda plant (pussy ears) Kalanchoe tomentosa
- Peace lily Spathiphyllum wallisii
- Peony Paeonia lactiflora
- Persian buttercup Ranunculus asiaticus
- Petunia Petunia x hybrida
- Poison bulb (giant crinum lily, phlap phlueng) Crinum asiaticum
- Polka-dot begonia (spotted begonia) Begonia maculata
- Poppy anemone (kalanit) Anemone coronaria
- Prayer plant (herringbone plant) Maranta leuconeura
- Rabbit-ear iris (kakitsubata) Iris laevigata
- Red spider lily Lycoris radiata
- Regal lily Lilium regale
- Round-leaf calathea Goeppertia orbifolia
- Sacred lotus Nelumbo nucifera
- Shell ginger Alpinia zerumbet
- Stock (gillyflower) Matthiola incana
- Sunflower Helianthus annuus
- Tiger lily Lilium lancifolium
- Toad lily Tricyrtis hirta
- Tulip Tulipa gesneriana
- Venus flytrap Dionaea muscipula
- Wax plant (porcelain flower) Hoya carnosa
- Yellow wax bells (kirenga-shĆma) Kirengeshoma palmata
- ZZ plant (Zanzibar gem) Zamioculcas zamiifolia
Shrubs (60)
- Anemone clematis Clematis montana
- Bigleaf hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla
- Boston ivy Parthenocissus tricuspidata
- Bunny ears cactus (polka-dot cactus) Opuntia microdasys · invasive in some regions
- Burning bush Euonymus alatus · invasive in some regions
- Buttercup winter hazel (hyƫgamizuki) Corylopsis pauciflora
- Camellia Camellia japonica
- Carolina allspice (sweetshrub) Calycanthus floridus
- Chinese juniper Juniperus chinensis
- Chinese redbud Cercis chinensis
- Chinese wisteria Wisteria sinensis · invasive in some regions
- Climbing hydrangea Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris
- Coral ardisia (manryĆ) Ardisia crenata · invasive in some regions
- Early stachyurus (kibushi) Stachyurus praecox
- Fatsia (Japanese aralia, yatsude) Fatsia japonica
- Forsythia Forsythia x intermedia
- Gardenia Gardenia jasminoides
- Heavenly bamboo (nandina) Nandina domestica · invasive in some regions
- Japanese andromeda (pieris) Pieris japonica
- Japanese barberry Berberis thunbergii · invasive in some regions
- Japanese beautyberry (murasaki-shikibu) Callicarpa japonica
- Japanese flowering quince Chaenomeles speciosa
- Japanese holly (inutsuge) Ilex crenata · invasive in some regions
- Japanese kerria Kerria japonica
- Japanese mock orange (pittosporum) Pittosporum tobira
- Japanese pepper (sanshĆ) Zanthoxylum piperitum
- Japanese skimmia (miyama-shikimi) Skimmia japonica
- Japanese snowball (doublefile viburnum) Viburnum plicatum
- Japanese spindle (masaki) Euonymus japonicus
- Japanese spiraea Spiraea japonica · invasive in some regions
- Japanese wisteria (fuji) Wisteria floribunda · invasive in some regions
- Korean rhododendron (jindallae) Rhododendron mucronulatum
- Korean spice viburnum Viburnum carlesii
- Krantz aloe (candelabra aloe) Aloe arborescens
- Lady palm (bamboo palm, rhapis) Rhapis excelsa
- Lily magnolia (mulan) Magnolia liliiflora
- Mountain hydrangea (yama-ajisai) Hydrangea serrata
- Old man cactus Cephalocereus senilis
- Panicle hydrangea Hydrangea paniculata
- Paperbush (mitsumata) Edgeworthia chrysantha
- Redvein enkianthus Enkianthus campanulatus
- Rhododendron Rhododendron
- Rice-paper plant (tsƫdatsu) Tetrapanax papyrifer
- Rugosa rose Rosa rugosa · invasive in some regions
- Sago cycad Cycas revoluta
- Sasanqua camellia Camellia sasanqua
- Satsuki azalea Rhododendron indicum
- Slender deutzia (himeutsugi) Deutzia gracilis
- Spotted laurel (Japanese aucuba) Aucuba japonica
- Star magnolia (shidekobushi) Magnolia stellata
- Sweet osmanthus Osmanthus fragrans
- Tea plant Camellia sinensis
- Thunberg bush clover (miyagino-hagi) Lespedeza thunbergii
- Tree peony Paeonia suffruticosa
- Trifoliate orange (karatachi) Citrus trifoliata · invasive in some regions
- Weigela Weigela florida
- Winter daphne Daphne odora
- Winter jasmine Jasminum nudiflorum
- Wintersweet Chimonanthus praecox
- Yunnan camellia Camellia reticulata
Trees (35)
- Camphor tree Cinnamomum camphora · invasive in some regions
- Chinese fringe tree Chionanthus retusus
- Chinese parasol tree (wutong) Firmiana simplex · invasive in some regions
- Crepe myrtle Lagerstroemia indica
- Empress tree (foxglove tree) Paulownia tomentosa · invasive in some regions
- Full-moon maple (hauchiwa-kaede) Acer japonicum
- Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba
- Hinoki cypress Chamaecyparis obtusa
- Japanese black pine Pinus thunbergii
- Japanese cedar (sugi) Cryptomeria japonica
- Japanese flowering cherry Prunus serrulata
- Japanese maple Acer palmatum
- Japanese pagoda tree (Chinese scholar tree) Styphnolobium japonicum
- Japanese red pine Pinus densiflora
- Japanese snowbell Styrax japonicus
- Japanese stewartia Stewartia pseudocamellia
- Japanese umbrella pine (kĆyamaki) Sciadopitys verticillata
- Japanese white pine (goyĆmatsu) Pinus parviflora
- Japanese zelkova (neutinamu) Zelkova serrata
- Katsura tree Cercidiphyllum japonicum
- Kobushi magnolia Magnolia kobus
- Korean pine Pinus koraiensis
- Kousa dogwood Cornus kousa
- Persian silk tree (mimosa) Albizia julibrissin · invasive in some regions
- Saucer magnolia Magnolia x soulangeana
- Sawara cypress Chamaecyparis pisifera
- Spiny tree fern Alsophila spinulosa
- Star anise Illicium verum
- Trident maple Acer buergerianum
- Ume (Chinese plum) Prunus mume
- Weeping willow Salix babylonica
- Windmill palm (Chusan palm) Trachycarpus fortunei
- Yew plum pine (inumaki) Podocarpus macrophyllus
- Yoshino cherry (Somei-yoshino) Prunus Ă yedoensis
- Yulan magnolia Magnolia denudata
Grasses (8)
- Golden bamboo Phyllostachys aurea · invasive in some regions
- Japanese forest grass Hakonechloa macra
- Japanese sweet flag (sekishĆ) Acorus gramineus
- Korean feather reed grass Calamagrostis brachytricha
- Maiden grass (miscanthus) Miscanthus sinensis
- Moso bamboo Phyllostachys edulis
- Rice (Asian rice) Oryza sativa
- Rough horsetail (scouring rush) Equisetum hyemale
Groundcovers (25)
- Baseball plant (living baseball) Euphorbia obesa
- Bishopâs cap cactus Astrophytum myriostigma
- Bunchberry Cornus canadensis
- Burroâs tail (donkeyâs tail) Sedum morganianum
- Cast-iron plant (haran) Aspidistra elatior
- Chin cactus (grafted âmoon cactusâ) Gymnocalycium mihanovichii
- Creeping fig (climbing fig) Ficus pumila
- Delta maidenhair fern Adiantum raddianum
- Ghost plant (mother-of-pearl plant) Graptopetalum paraguayense
- Hosta Hosta spp.
- Japanese painted fern Athyrium niponicum
- Japanese spurge (pachysandra) Pachysandra terminalis · invasive in some regions
- Jelly bean plant (pork and beans) Sedum rubrotinctum
- Ladyfinger cactus (gold lace cactus) Mammillaria elongata
- Lilyturf (liriope) Liriope muscari
- Living stones (Leslieâs lithops) Lithops lesliei
- Mondo grass Ophiopogon japonicus
- Moonstones (sugared almond plant) Pachyphytum oviferum
- Moss phlox (creeping phlox) Phlox subulata
- Ostrich fern Matteuccia struthiopteris
- Sacred lily (omoto) Rohdea japonica
- Stonecrop (sedum) Hylotelephium spectabile
- Strawberry begonia (yukinoshita) Saxifraga stolonifera
- String of pearls Curio rowleyanus
- Zebra haworthia (zebra plant) Haworthiopsis attenuata
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.