The Seattle Japanese Garden Then & Now | Part II: The Conifers

By Maggie Carr

This is the second in a series of three articles about the Garden’s plant collections, and how they have changed over time. 

The previous article by Corinne Kennedy presented historical information about the Garden’s plant collections, and discussed Rhododendron species. Here is a link to that article: https://www.seattlejapanesegarden.org/blog/2021/5/19/then-and-now-part-one

This month the focus is on specific conifer species that have historical significance in the garden.

Culturally and aesthetically significant, conifers are an integral part of the Japanese Garden. They bring a feeling of age and stability and help define areas in the garden that refer to natural landscapes of Japan, such as open woodlands, forested mountains, wooded hills and islands, and wind-swept shores. 

Native Conifers:

Juki Iida included existing native conifers in his landscaping. Some remain, such as the garden’s sole 100’ Douglas fir, and one Western red cedar now over 70’. The 100’ Eastern white pine was part of the Olmstead plantings from 1910. These natives form part of the overhead canopy of the Open Woodland/Mixed Forest and Mountain areas of the garden

Yellow cedar used for Wisteria Arbor (photo: likely K. Smith)

Other native conifers were added as screens and hedges. Six Alaskan yellow cedars were planted in the early 1960’s north of the Emperor’s gate.  Over time they outgrew the garden’s scale, and in 2002 the last two were removed.  Following the Japanese Mottainai principle of reusing gifts of nature, the wood was salvaged to replace the aging Wisteria Arbor.

As part of Iida’s design, in the early 1960’s, 42 Port Orford cedars (another native conifer) were planted to screen the north end of the garden.  Victims of a root fungus disease, their removal occurred from 1997-2013. The fungus killed almost all the Port Orford cedars in Seattle during the same period.

Pine Species:

Pines are the predominant conifer in the garden. Associated with endurance, permanency, and longevity, some are pruned for a lower wind-shaped appearance by the pond’s edge, some stand stately by the Emperor’s Gate, and others stand tall as part of the forested mountain and North Hill.

Juki Iida’s selections include Japanese black pine, Japanese red pine, and NW native shore pine. Traditionally, black pine refers to a mountainous habitat and red pine with seashore, and based on their structure, have male and female references.  In the garden, red pines are placed on the islands, and it is a red pine that serves as a backdrop to the moon (female) viewing platform.

The garden’s beloved black pine, the Yamasaki pine, was transplanted in 1993 from the garden of Dick Yamasaki, who helped build the garden and for over 30 years dedicated himself to its care and preservation.  Over 100 years old, the pine’s heavily furrowed bark and rounded form enhances the west end of the village wall.

Yamasaki black pine (photo: Aleks Monk)

Japanese red pine by Moon Viewing Platform (photo: Maggie Carr)

There are five NW native shore pines across from the Emperor’s Gate. Planted in 66’ and 69’ and replaced in 2002, they are heavily pruned for an upright formal shape that echoes the adjacent standing lantern. The pines frame a unique view of the garden from this entry gate. 

Native shore pines now suffer from needle blight, and if they fail, will be replaced with Japanese red or black pines.

Cryptomeria Japonica:

Cryptomeria japonica is a featured plant in the garden. 

By 1970 four, 9’ tall Cryptomeria japonica had been planted in the Teahouse Garden. Their inclusion contributed to the allusion of the Teahouse’s secluded location at the foot of a forested mountain.  However, by 2010, three were 60’ tall and overwhelmed the garden and were removed. The fourth at 30’ needed removal in 2015.

Slow-growing dwarf cultivars of Cryptomeria remain in the Teahouse Garden:  two 18’ ‘Bandai-Sugi’ planted in 1970, and one 13’ ‘Jindai-Sugi’ that was transplanted to the garden about 1982. 

Cryptomeria japonica 'Jindai-Sugi' in Tea House Garden (photo: Aleks Monk)

Cryptomeria were also used for screens and hedges. Four 80+’ tall Cryptomeria form a backdrop to the cherry orchard and the Azumaya.  Originally received as seeds in 1961 from the Yoshino Forest in Nara Prefecture, two were 10-12’ tall when planted in 1967.  In 1969 additional Cryptomeria were added to form the screening on the west side of the Garden. Another 10’-12’ Cryptomeria was planted in 1969 in the grass area outside the south gate where it stands today at 30’.

Cryptomeria japonica west of Orchard (photo: Aleks Monk)

Chamaecyparis Species:

There are many Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) and other Chamaecyparis cultivars in the garden. One of Japan’s most beloved conifers, the tree is revered for its grace and incomparable fragrance.  In the open woodland along the garden’s east side stand three hinokis planted in 1962 at 3 1/2’.  Sourced from Mizuki Gardens, a former nursery on Empire Way (now Martin Luther King Jr. Way) in Seattle, they now stand over 40’ tall.

Hinoki by east path (photo: Aleks Monk)

There are three hinokis in the SW corner of the Teahouse Garden. Planted in the mid-1990’s, they stand at 18’.  Four Chamaecyparis Obtusa ‘Nana Gracilis’ (Dwarf slender hinoki false cypress) were donated to the Arboretum as scions in 1956 by one of the Arboretum’s very early supporters, Mrs. O. B. Thorgrimson.  In 1961 they were 15” tall and planted in the Teahouse Garden.

Today there remains one at 16’ that, along with the three 18’ hinokis, contributes to the effect of the Teahouse location in the foothills of a mountain.

The garden is graced with numerous other conifer species of fir, hemlock, spruce, cedar, and yew that are not addressed in this “then and now” article.  Their selections since the garden’s first decade have been inspired by Juki’s Iida’s design and vision for the Japanese Garden.

Maggie Carr is a garden guide who serves on the Japanese Garden Plant Committee.