Empress Tree Blooms in Late Spring with Large, Pale Purple Foxglove-like Flowers

Paulownia tomentosa is a fast-growing deciduous tree with showy flowers and a long history in Asian folklore, tradition, and medicine. Its common names include empress tree, princess tree, royal paulownia, and foxglove tree.

In Winter, ‘Kobai’ Flowering Plum Opens its Fragrant, Deep Pink Flowers

Three Prunus mume ‘Kobai’ trees are planted on the eastern edge of the Seattle Japanese Garden’s entry courtyard. Even before the Garden re-opens each year in March, they delight Arboretum visitors with their fragrant, deep pink winter flowers.

In the Garden, Japanese Culture, Plants and BloomsCorinne KennedyFebruary 23, 2022Seattle, Winter, Plum, Fragrant, tree, bloom, Flower Arranging

Sakaki: The Shinto Religion’s Sacred Flowering Evergreen

Cleyera japonica is a flowering evergreen shrub or small tree viewed as sacred in Japan’s Shinto religion. Its branches have been used as offerings in Shinto rituals since ancient times.

Events, In the Garden, Spring, Plants and BloomsCorinne KennedyFebruary 18, 2020Japanese Culture, traditional, tree

Candling: The Art of Japanese Pine Pruning

You may notice at this time of year pine trees are covered with prominent upright buds at the branch tips. These are called candles, and they are the spring growth of the tree.

The Bright Yellow Flowers of Cornus mas are an Early Promise of Spring

Cornus mas is a one of the earliest trees to bloom, with small, bright-yellow flowers in mid to late winter. Despite the common name, it’s a species of dogwood rather than a true cherry.

In the Garden, Spring, Plants and BloomsCorinne KennedyFebruary 18, 2019gardening, tree, bloom

Thuja plicata: Our Iconic Northwest Native Conifer

Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) is an important Pacific NW native tree with many traditional uses & meanings. As such, it’s our region’s counterpart to Japan’s iconic Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica).

In the Garden, Plants and BloomsCorinne KennedyNovember 2, 2017tree, Japanese Cedar, Japanese Garden

Gardeners' Talk: Autumn Colors and Japanese Maples

Japanese maples are truly a four-season plant… And, perhaps most notable, the brilliant display of fall. The beauty of each season is in its impermanence, the daily change and inevitable shift into the next phase.

In the Garden, Fall, Japanese Garden Design, Plants and BloomsChie IidaOctober 13, 2017Maple, Fall, tree

Osmanthus – a Classic Evergreen bringing Structure & Fragrance to the Garden

Osmanthus is an under-appreciated gem of our Seattle Japanese Garden – and a favorite of mine....

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