Garden Plants of Japan

By Ran Levy-Yamamori and Gerard Taaffe (Portland, Oregon, Timber Press 2004) 440 pp. : Illustrations783 colour photos, 2 maps
ISBN: 0-88192-650-7

There has been something of a resurgence of passion for the apparent understated simplicity of the Japanese garden over recent years. We love the sense of calm and order that underlies their structure and the careful placing of each of the individual features that make up the whole. It was these same characteristics that charmed our gardening forebears into wanting Japanese style gardens in the grounds of some of the great stately homes of Britain. For our forefathers to have an authentic experience they bought in plants gathered from the region. In some cases these were new introductions to the country and the visitors would marvel at the latest Rhododendron, Acer or bamboo no doubt given pride of place in the grand design. But that was then, and now much of the time we have no idea as to what plants can be included into a Japanese garden and which ought to be left out. There is still the desire to capture something of the authentic experience but we are over-faced with the range of plants available. In Garden Plants of Japan the authors, Ran Levy-Yamamori and Gerard Taaffe, have presented a comprehensive guide to Japanese garden flora. They have not just catalogued those plants that have garden merit but gone on to explain something of their significance in the garden. They tell the story behind the plant, its history in the gardens of Japan, and the meanings of the Japanese common names. In short they give colour to the description and enable the designer of a Japanese garden to make an informed choice.