Okarikomi, masses of shrubs sheared into wavelike forms, are both beautiful and functional sculptures in the Japanese garden.

Keeping the same genus and species of plant material within the massings is imperative for successful creation of okarikomi, as homogeneous texture and color allow the eye to see the mass as a single form, not as a multitude of individuals.

In addition to light, soil, and climatic hardiness parameters, species characteristics to consider when specifying plant material for okarikomi plantings include: a high tolerance for shearing, preferably able to sprout from old wood; four seasons of interest, as the massing will be making a statement in the garden; and the deciduous versus evergreen nature of the material, and what the winter silhouette will reveal or screen from main viewpoints.

We polled gardeners around the country to ask about their favorite plants for creating successful okarikomi in their particular growing conditions. Below are their responses:

Northern New York 
-Evergreen Azalea (Rhododendron ‘Karens’)
-Rhododendron (Rhododendron ‘PJM Group’)
-Yew (Taxus sp.)
-Boxwood (Buxus ‘Green Velvet’ or ‘Green Mountain’)
-Barberry (Berberis vulgaris)
-Montgomery Blue Spruce (Picea pungens ‘Montgomery’)
-Japanese Spirea (Spirea japonica ‘Little Princess’)
-Wintercreeper Euonymus (Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’)
-False Cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera)
-Catmint (Nepeta spp.)

Illinois 
-Yews (Taxus baccata)
-Mugo Pines (Pinus mugo)
–Spirea
-Azaleas

Oregon
-Azaleas

Arizona
-Compact Myrtle (Myrtus communis ‘Compacta’)
-Dwarf Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria ‘Nana’)

Michigan 
-Japanese Meadowsweet (Spiraea japonica)

Central Valley (California) 
-Yaupon Holly (llex vomitoria)

Bay Area (California)
-Hinode Giri Azalea (Rhododendron ‘Hinodi giri’)
-Boxwood (Buxus)
-Bamboo

Montreal
– Boxwood (Buxus ‘Green Gem’) and (Buxus ‘Mont St-Bruno’)
– Lace Shrub (Stephanandra incisa ‘Crispa’)
-Woodward Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Woodwardii’)
-Halward’s Silver Spirea (Spirea nipponica ‘Halward’s Silver’)
-Spirea (Spirea x vanhouttei)
-Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Nanus’)

*Photo above: Boxwood (Buxus x microphylla ‘Green Velvet’) (Photo by Nicole LaPlante)