Home-garden expert Carol Reese of the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service discusses common garden plants native to the orient. Many Asian natives are well adapted to life in North America. Sometimes a plant's species name indicates its origins--for example, japonica, orientalis or chinensis. Flowering quince (Chaenomeles), a deciduous shrub, is native to China and Japan and produces an abundance of white, pink or apricot blossoms in early spring. Its fruit is used to make jams, jellies and chutney. Most quince species have thorny branches and wild growth habits that can be controlled by pruning when the plant is dormant. Flowering quince is used to celebrate the Chinese New Year, and it's considered lucky if the flowers open on New Year's Day. The groundcover mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus) is native to East Asia. Also called lilyturf, mondo grass grows to a height of 1' to 2' and blooms in early summer. To increase your stock, divide plants in early spring before new growth begins. When you purchase new plants, divide the clumps before planting (figure A) to save money. Use dwarf varieties in conjunction with full-size mondo grass to achieve a feeling of depth in a small landscape. Irish or Scottish moss is often used in Oriental landscapes. It looks good when planted near rocks to provide a soft yin to complement the rock's hard yang. You can direct the growth of young pine trees to create an oriental look by bending small branches with the aid of stiff wire. Wrap wire loosely around lateral branches so the tree isn't girdled as the limbs grow. Once the branches are wrapped, encourage them to grow in the desired direction to give the tree a windswept look. The Japanese venerate age, and the appearance of antiquity is very desirable in the landscape. Evergreens nandina and Ternstroemia gymnanthera both adapt well to pruning and shaping. By pruning to expose the open framework of branches and create negative spaces, you can add the oriental element of air to the landscape.
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