Japanese Garden Design Ideas for Autumn: Plant Lasting Color to First Frost!

Japanese Garden Design Ideas for Autumn: Plant Lasting Color to First Frost!
Want rich fall color without the chaos? In this beginner-friendly video, we review a simple 3-layer plan—1 hero tree, 2 fall-blooming shrubs, 3 easy companions—so your Japanese-style garden glows through Fall and into first frost.

Download your FREE Beginners Japanese Garden Guide (PDF) here: https://sakurandstone.systeme.io/beginnersgardenguide

What we cover (highlights):
The 3-Layer Map (canopy → shrubs → companions) for balanced autumn color.
Hero trees: Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) or ginkgo for red/orange and gold contrast.
Fall shrubs: Camellia sasanqua, Camellia × hiemalis ‘Shishi Gashira’, tea camellia (Camellia sinensis).
Fragrance & screens: Osmanthus fragrans (kinmokusei), Osmanthus heterophyllus (hiiragi).
Color drape & carry: Lespedeza thunbergii (bush clover), Hydrangea paniculata (panicles aging to dusky pink/burgundy).
Companions: Moss, Hakonechloa (Hakone grass), black mondo, autumn fern, Callicarpa japonica (beautyberry).

Tips for U.S. viewers:
Check USDA hardiness zone and sun exposure; many camellias/osmanthus thrive in Zones 7–9 (use microclimates or hardy substitutes if colder).
Keep stone/gravel calm so foliage and blooms read clearly.
After rain, lightly edge-trim moss at stone tops to reduce slips.

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