Japanese tree shapes 樹形 Jukei

When study gardening, one topic will eventually cross the ambitioned student: tree shapes.

Today I want to introduce the tree shapes you might learn in Japan. These are, of course varying slightly from the typical forms in Europe or America.
Some of them are unique to Japan.

Tree shapes

Natural shapes

Oval shape 卵形 tamago-gata
Kobushi コブシ Magnolia kobus – kobus magnolia
Hanamizuki ハナミズキ Cornus florida – flowering dogwood

Conical shape 円錐形 ensui-kei
Konifā コニファー – various conifers

Column shape 円柱形 enchū-kei
Kaya カヤ Torreya nucifera – Japanese nutmeg-yew
Popura ポプラ Populus – poplar

Bell shape 半鐘形 hanshō-gata
Kinmokusei キンモクセイ Osmanthus fragrans – sweet osmanthus
Mokkoku モッコク Ternstroemia gymnanthera

Umbrella shape 盃状形 haijō-gata
Keyaki ケヤキ Zelkova serrata – Japanese zelkova
Yamazakura ヤマザクラ Cerasus jamasakura

Weeping shape 枯垂形 koshide-gata (shidare is frequently used for this type)
Ume ウメ Prunus mume – Japanese plum (apricot)
Sakura サクラ Prunus, Cerasus – Japanese cherry

Hemisphere shape 半球形 hankyū-gata
Jinchōge ジンチョウゲ Daphne odora – winter daphne
Kodemari コデマリ Spiraea cantoniensis – Reeve’s spiraea

Creeping shape 匍匐形 hofuku-gata
Kotoneasutā コトネアスター Cotoneaster
Haibyakushin ハイビャクシン Juniperus chinensis var. procumbens

Man-made shapes

Cloud shape 玉ちらし tamachirashi
Irregularly arranged branches, which end in a ball shape made of smaller branches and leaves.

Step shape 段造り danzukuri
This shape is similar to the cloud shape, but the branches are arranged in a regular pattern.

Round shrub 玉物 tamamono
The upper part is rounded. The overall shape reminds at an egg cut in half.

Standard shape スタンダード仕立て sutandādo shitate
One main trunk with no branches in the bottom part with a rounded canopy.

Topiary トピアリー topiarī
Western-style shrub shaping in truly unnatural forms.

Typical Japanese shapes

Formal upright 直幹 chokkan
One upright trunk. The image is that of a Christmas tree.

Informal upright 曲幹 kyokukan
One trunk is winding upwards. This shape is often seen in Japanese gardens.

Slanted 斜幹 shakan
This shape is similar to the informal upright form but is either slanted to the right or left.

Half (or semi) cascade 懸崖 kengai
The tree is bending down (a cliff). The top is not reaching the ground.

Flowing branch 流枝 nageshi
The flowing branch shape is similar to the slanted shape but has a main branch, which is stretching over water.

Daisugi 台杉 daisugi
Typical for Kyoto. The trunk is cut in a height of 50 or 60cm above the ground. From there new trunks grow upright. Kitayama sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) are used for this style.

After knowing the shapes, one question might occur: why is it important to know which tree has which shape?
The answer is easy. When planting trees, one needs to consider the space the canopy of a tree needs after several years growing in one place. Depending on the shape of the canopy, we can choose different trees, shrubs or groundcover to accompany it and know which distance between the trees is required for a healthy growth.
If you plant two trees with a wide, round canopy next to each other, the distance between both needs to be larger than between two trees with a column shape.

I hope you enjoyed this excursion into Japanese garden design theory!

The overview is based on materials of the E&G Academy (http://www.eandg.co.jp) and the website of 人工樹形(仕立て樹形)

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Useful tools and resources:

Garden technical release – Everything about trees

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Yamada Kaoris guide to Bonsai shapes

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Niwaki: Pruning, Training and Shaping Trees the Japanese Way

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Okatsune 103 Bypass Pruners General Purpose Medium

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Okatsune Garden Scissors/Hand Pruner Type A, No.201-SN w/BP

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Most common garden shears used in Tokyo.
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Okatsune Professional Snips, No.207

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This type is used for Megiri.
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Okatsune Precision Hedge Shears, 7 5/8″ blade, 22″ overall length

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Most common hedge shears used in Tokyo.
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Felco F-2 Classic Manual Hand Pruner

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Most common professional pruning shears used in Europe.
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Anika

With twelve years of professional landscaping experience under her belt, Anika Ogusu is your perfect guide to the world of Japanese gardens. Her love of nature began early, in the woods near her childhood home and the garden of her grandmother’s house. During her teenage years she developed a strong interest in Japanese culture, and after university she decided to combine her love of Japan and gardens into a profession. Anika started her career as chief gardener in charge of the perennial valley at the Botanical Garden in Hamburg, Germany, then moved to Tokyo in pursuit of her dream. For two years she apprenticed under local landscape designers and learned the art of Japanese garden design, construction and maintenance. Now, in partnership with Real Japanese Gardens (www.japanesegardens.jp), her wish is to spread the magic of Japanese gardens to the rest of the world. Her in-depth guide books on gardens throughout Japan are available in eBook format or paperback. In her free time, Anika enjoys exploring her adopted country (especially green moss gardens), and soaking up nature and any details that interest her.

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Anika

With twelve years of professional landscaping experience under her belt, Anika Ogusu is your perfect guide to the world of Japanese gardens. Her love of nature began early, in the woods near her childhood home and the garden of her grandmother’s house. During her teenage years she developed a strong interest in Japanese culture, and after university she decided to combine her love of Japan and gardens into a profession. Anika started her career as chief gardener in charge of the perennial valley at the Botanical Garden in Hamburg, Germany, then moved to Tokyo in pursuit of her dream. For two years she apprenticed under local landscape designers and learned the art of Japanese garden design, construction and maintenance. Now, in partnership with Real Japanese Gardens (www.japanesegardens.jp), her wish is to spread the magic of Japanese gardens to the rest of the world. Her in-depth guide books on gardens throughout Japan are available in eBook format or paperback. In her free time, Anika enjoys exploring her adopted country (especially green moss gardens), and soaking up nature and any details that interest her.