Japan

Frosted Jade Ajuga. A rare Ajuga the likes of which you may have never seen. We all are familiar with the utilitarian carpeting-with-abandon slug magnet ubiquitous in gardens everywhere. This is a different critter altogether and resembles Bugleweed about as much as a Bichon Frise does a Junkyard Dawg. Stays put in a clump with erect stems to 16" with showy leaves of white, green and cream and intense violet blue flowers. This has been one of the most asked about plants in our shade garden and when we say what it is, the answer usually is "That's an Ajuga? Do you have it?" It is completely deciduous as well which is another mind boggler. And for slugs - they do like this one too, but really it is mainly the new shoots in early spring. We just keep an eye on the growth and if they are getting nibbled then we go out one or two evenings and inflict bodily harm and don't worry much about the plant afterwards.

A new dwarf form of this popular Black Mondo Grass. We have not yet grown these to maturity but have had them them for some time now and can say they are very slow so we do believe they are going to be smaller than typical. Perfect in troughs, bonsai containers, edging along stones, model railway gardens, etc etc.

These Japanese versions of the European nobilis are ones we have grown from seed and have been hoarding for a few years but since there is no room left in the Hepatica house, we must send a few of our kids out into the world. Each plant is different from white to pale pink and we get to pick. These are larger, established plants - not fresh from Japan. Also note that these are not as hardy as the European Hepatica but good for sure in zones 8-9a.

A smaller Japanese Wild Ginger that eventually clumps quite densely. It looked good in our garden for many years but we dug it and potted it so we could share these and must plant some back. Small heart-shaped leaves with an irregular central green isthmus flanked on either side by a froth of silver. Small purple-brown flowers are not missed hiding under the fine leaves. This looks like the form from Mt Takao based solely on web photos from habitat. Wish we had our own photos from Mt Takao!

Grown from seed collected in the Yoro Mts in Japan, this compensates for being shorter than its cousins by being hardier to Zone 6. Personally, I subscribe to the fishing theory that it is not the size of the worm you use but how you wiggle it. Will thrive in rich moist soil.

Chunky well-established pots of this uncommon selection. A robust taller species whose leaves sport a moonlit sliver of variegation on the upper leaf margin. This is more than enough for the variegated-obsessed despite it benefiting from the magnifier function on your phone. Well-displayed large white bells.

One of the classic broad leaf evergreen small trees, this grows quite slowly and will fill the evergreen shrub niche for many years. This has small apetalous (that would be no petals so you can guess at the wow factor) chartreuse flowers in spring. Just a great Asian plant requiring decent moist soil.

A fine selection of this deciduous Japanese species which was introduced by We-Du Nursery. Sizable flowers of rich purple are the hallmark of this plant and it more than holds it own against more recent hybrids. All Epimediums can't be painted with the same drought tolerant brush and this one appreciates more water than the real drought tolerant species.

This is just a good clean form we have bulked over the years by patient, ever so patient, year after year, division. Clear white flowers with the subtle pop of red anthers and a marbled leaf to boot. This all combines in a presentation of exquisite subtlety that propels you back via state-induced memory to past intersections with grace and beauty.

A curiosity found and named in Japan, this has long, crazy thread-like leaves on thin stems and will make a spreading, small mound which would hang over an edge if so sited. It can be staked up to get a bit of height which we like. No fruit or flowers on this Mulberry and don't grow this clone for silk production - the poor silkworms would starve!

The Wynn-Jones of Crug Farm collected this woodlander from Japan's Shikoku Island and represents a link to the shared flora we have here in the Northwest as there are native Mitella in our nearby woods. This is a low and evergreen species with foliage patterned in chocolate markings. The flowers are small pinkish-brown affairs with strongly recurved corolla lobes and held on stems 8"-15" above the leaves. This won't stop anyone in their tracks on its own but as part of the intricate plant tapestry that is required for an exquisite shade garden, this is an essential element. Plus if you are a tiny bit competitive, you can't disregard the fact that you will have something that is very unlikely anyone visiting your garden will have in their own garden. Zone 6 at least, likely lower and best in shade to part shade.

A fun Primrose that, when settled in and enjoying a rich crumbly soil, can really make a nice patch. This spreads by underground rhizomes and is a good colonizer. With some plants, when you say 'colonizer' it rightly sounds an alarm much like a submarine klaxon on an emergency dive. Not so this. Rich tomato-pink flowers above season-interest-extending, felty foliage.

Our own flowering divisions from a plant bequeathed us from the former garden of plant-obsessed Marian Raitz. This Japanese selection is a fully pink double and double means the flowers last longer than the typical single fertile flowers. Ideal for cool greenhouse pot culture or mild gardens.

Tongue Ferns are widespread in China and Japan where they can be epiphytic as well as lithophytic on rocks. Fantastic variants are being selected by the cult followers of Pyrrosia in Japan and "Tachiba Koryu' is one with evergreen blade-like leaves sporting rounded lobes along the margins. Does fantastic at Peckerwood Gardens near Houston. We have seen the species making impressive colonies on rock faces or in mossy rubble during various China forays and it is always like coming across an old friend in the forest. This is best grown in loose, well drained soil and would be happy in a rotting stump or lightly shaded scree bed.

This choice Tongue Fern is notable for the yellowish variegation on its evergreen 12" long leaves, and is likely conspecific with the clone sold as 'Variegata', Pyrrosia are easy but require great drainage and unless you are planting it in a stumpery, rockery or slope, you will need to seriously amend with gravel, bark or assorted detritus of life. Nice divisions from our stock plants.

Oyster Leaf. The leaves are edible and taste - and feel - exactly like raw oysters. If raw oysters are your thing, this is an OMG veg alternative. The now closed El Bulli in Catalonia, regarded as one of the greatest restaurants ever, ran with Oyster Leaf innovative ways. Loved to have tried the leaves striped in golden caviar and splashed with Grey Goose. Beautiful glaucous blue-green leaves on sprawling stems tipped in small sky blue flowers. This likes ample nutrition. Perennial and dormant in winter. This is a plant of just above high tide line on cold northern hemisphere beaches from Maine to Greenland and Japan to Alaska so if you have a cool to cold garden, here you go.

This coveted form has white flowers with a fully visible striking pink reverse to the backs of the petals. The leaves which follow bloom are impressive in their own right being quite large with rounded lobes and rich purple-maroon undersides. A plant of this in your garden will forever mark you as a discerning plant nerd. Ultimate hardiness is not known but ours has weathered 8F in our shade garden no problem.

This is very close to 'Kaleidoscope' and comes from the same Japanese nursery from which a plant was purchased and patented in this country as 'Kaleidoscope'. One has to wonder how a plant already in the trade on an international basis can be patented but that is a discussion that can run long into the night. 'Galaxy' is nearly indistinguishable from 'Kaleidoscope' and may well be a sister seedling or another selection in Japan. Lightly hairy stems hold the pale green leaves with their radially symmetrical chocolate splotches. Red flowers held beneath the foliage but who cares, really? It's all about the leaves. Moist shade and be prepared to be envied.

This was one of those "Holy shit - lookit that fern!" moments when we first spotted this species growing in a moist stable and vegetated scree at the base of a soaring vertical cliff face fronting this mountainous outcrop of improbable pinnacles in Guizhou, China, The fern was perfect in scale and not intimidated in the slightest with 5'-6' wide leaves on a clumping plant 6'-8' tall. We were dismayed not to collect spore but happy to get a small plant of this species from fernologist Sue Olsen a few years back. This grows to be a pretty hefty clump but does not run. Hardy to zone 8 and mulch crown if it gets serious in winter.

This is a heralded Japanese Jack in the Pulpit whose species name sikokianum I believe translates into English as 'divine whup-ass' because this truly and gloriously kicks some tail in the garden. A mysterious yet provocative regal beauty. A classic for the shade garden.