I need a plant that will fit the following parameters: dappled shade all day, fairly dry soil (in summer, that is -- in winter, damp), height 3-6' (prefer 4-6'), strong vertical growth if possible but in any event don't want something more than 4' wide (and narrower would be great), Asian look for natural Japanese style garden. I was hoping for a clumping bamboo but am having trouble finding something that size for shade. Any suggestions?

Many thanks!

Carol

Fargesia nitida (purple fountain bamboo)- really a bamboo, clumping, loves shade, hardy to -20 (or was it -40 F?), favorite food of giant pandas (and my cat :)

Ribes sanguineum (red-flowering currant) and Acer circinatum (vine maple) both very nice PNW natives, but might get too big for what you want.

That's a start, anyway :)

- Evelyn

Evelyn and Mike made excellent sugestions.
mahonia , acuba, peirce japonica , mautain laurel. rhododerdoron, azalea. hydorengia, kerria japonica, fatasia japonica.paeony.gardania etc. those are just portion of list of shurbs you can choose from ........... Mike

The bamboo... I water every other day.
There's some spectacular camellias...
perhaps your library carries:
"The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Camellias"
or click below for a huge camellia site.

Enoshima: I dateed with my high school sweet heart. we went to beach of Enoshima one night ,( Enoshima is next to kamakura city.) That night I send her back to home 1:30 am and her Father was standind at door in red face , I had to leave without one word.

Jindaiji .: Jindaiji is name of old temple. it is about one hour and half from my parents home by bus and train. I went to Jindaiji 4 th grade field trip

Ofuna botanical garden: I visited the garden many times in my early 20's

Saitama botanical garden : this is in metro Tokyo area. Around Saitam botanical garden, there are many top Japanese bonsai nurseries, large mail order nuseries, specialty nuseries located this area. I have few friends in nusery trade over there. If you have chance to visit to Japan and want to see many plants in shortest time, this is where you should visit to .
Head quater of Ameriacn camera soceity. Fort vally , Ga :
about 120 mile south of where I live now. I have visited recently. The garden has samll Japanese garden. last year members of ameriacn bamboo society helped clean up bamboo groove and I was there too and made new a friend.

Flowers are very beautifull and I should not write about those places where I had my memory.
Thank you. mike................................ mike

8)

Scott

Shade to dappled shade, to 6' in areas with good rich soil and lots of moisture (but I believe it will take a PNW summer), shaped "like a shuttlecock."

- Evelyn

Please tell us more about Saitama. Bonsai is my special interest. I am hoping to get back to Japan in the next year or so, and seeking out bonsai displays (and nurseries) will be a priority. Any leads will be appreciated!

Scott:
I knew something missing. you made very good sugestion. enkianthous flower is very prety, In fall leave turn to redish color and it is beautifull. In winetr, tip of branchs show flower buds. she/ Carol may not able to find at home depo, but well worth to find it.

Gardner :
I forgot to tell, Enoshima has aquarium . I can not remember what grade I was,( may be 4th or 5th Grade .) I had field trip to Enoshima aquarium also my father took whole familly to the aqurium.
after my kimchi breath are gone, I should give mikee big hug. ;):) :),

Saitama mihon Shokubutus en/ Saitama sample Botanical garden. whole nusery industry and local goverment put resourece togather and showing What Saitama offer to whole sale buyer ,home owners, hobiest.
Omiya city is famus for Bonsai. Kawaguchi city, Angyoy city
area is mecca of nusery trade , and also has many bosai nurseies. Saitama chapter of Japan nusery association is most active chapter of the the trade association.
If you need more information about nusery trade, Ask to
JETRO / Japan external trade association. it is free service. If you have trouble to find JETRO send me E mail.

Our land is about 1/24 th of USA . 70 % of land are moutain. we have about half of USA population, and we have 3~4 time more nueries than USA. Of course it is much samller than Us nuseries. Many of nuseris are specialized one kind of plant or Bonsai.

about berbery:
berbery take more time to clean, becourse of sharp spine and may have to pune more offten than other plants.
you have to tough skin or have to have thick leather gloves
. If you have only one or two plants, then it is not so bad.
growing under some shade, berbery may not develope to dence, compact form . it may grow a little bit leggy and may not have nice fall color.

Thank you mikee......... you made my day !.......mike

Thank you, Mike, for sharing your memories, and thank you again, everyone, for all your help.

Carol Ann

Mike, I'm glad you enjoyed website.
Thanks for recommending David Engel's book.
I'm finally finding time to read it and it's very good!
Did you ever find a copy of it?

michael

I've always wondered about flowering quince: they have nice flowers and great-looking branches, but do all of them have big, sharp thorns?
(And why don't most plant reference books tell you whether a thing has thorns or not?)

- Evelyn

(I can hardly wait until I need a plant to discourage intruders somewhere: then I'll be all over flowering quince! Er, wait, maybe I should re-phrase that... :)

Hi Mike..
The book you recommended on the best book post
was "Japanese gardens for today".... I thought
you were looking for that one. I think my library
is getting some other of his books.

This is beautifull flowering quince site. It is for you to enjoy. I enjoyed Camerias and many name of places show on website. It reminded me my youth time . ......mike

Cheers June

However, if it suits you and your garden, go ahead and plant it. Quince is one of those plants I appreciate very much when they are in bloom in early spring in other people's gardens.

-- Nandina domestica. Nice upright form, winter berries, bamboo-like form, evergreen.
-- Northern Sea Oats. Upright grass that grows well in shade.
-- Oregon Grape or Holly. Form similar to nandina, holly-like leaves, blue berries in winter.
-- Some of the smaller Japanese maples, such as the theadleaf varieties (eg, Koto-no-ito, Villa taranto) that grow more upright than wide.
-- Pleiblastus bamboo (can't remember the full botanical name), beautiful green and yellow variegated foliage, can grow in shade or sun, need to control the roots.