Region 15 · Asia · Cfa / Dwa / Dfb
Horticulture in East Asia
A temperate monsoon with humid summers, a plum-rain season and typhoons; the garden tradition is the most codified in the world, from zōen and karesansui to the classical Chinese garden. Winter cold varies sharply from Hokkaido to Hong Kong.
ClimateTemperate monsoon (Cfa / Dwa / Dfb)
USDA zones4–10
Growing seasonMarch to November
RainfallSummer monsoon, plum rain, typhoons
SoilsAlluvial, acidic; volcanic in Japan
Frost riskGrowthRainfall
The climate, read as a season
Peak growth falls in May, Jun, Jul, Aug; dormancy in Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec. Hard frost is confined to Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec, and the driest months are none. Those three patterns decide the planting calendar more than the annual average temperature.
| Season | Conditions | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Mar · Apr · May | Active growth drier spell · hard frost | Maintain, harvest and prepare the next season. |
| Summer Jun · Jul · Aug | Peak growth steady rain · frost-free | The main planting and sowing window. |
| Autumn Sep · Oct · Nov | Slow growth drier spell · light frost | Maintain, harvest and prepare the next season. |
| Winter Jan · Feb · Dec | Dormancy drier spell · hard frost | Dormant: prune, plan and protect. |
What the climate demands
- The plum-rain season (June–July) and typhoons bring weeks of rain and wind; drainage and staking are seasonal musts.
- Humid summers drive blackspot, blight and mildew; pruning for airflow is the main control.
- Winter cold ranges from zone 4 to 10 across the region, so the same palette cannot serve Sapporo and Guangzhou.
Signature flora
| Plant | Role | Why it is used here |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese red pine Pinus densiflora | ConiferTreeNative | Dry ridges; bonsai. |
| Black pine Pinus thunbergii | ConiferTreeNative | Coastal; wind. |
| Japanese maple Acer palmatum | TreeNative | Part shade; cultivars. |
| Cherry Prunus serrulata | TreeCut flowerNative | Spring blossom; short-lived. |
| Japanese apricot Prunus mume | TreeFruitNative | Winter flowers; fruit. |
| Camphor Cinnamomum camphora | TreeNative | Street tree; fragrance. |
| Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba | TreeNative | Ancient; street tree. |
| Dawn redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides | ConiferTreeNative | Wet; fast. |
| Sugi Cryptomeria japonica | ConiferTreeNative | Forestry; pollen. |
| Hinoki cypress Chamaecyparis obtusa | ConiferTreeNative | Bonsai; timber. |
| Bamboo Phyllostachys | GrassNative | Spreads; root barrier. |
| Camellia Camellia japonica | ShrubCut flowerNative | Winter flowers; acid. |
| Azalea Rhododendron | ShrubCut flowerNative | Acid; pruning. |
| Hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla | ShrubCut flower | Summer rain; shade. |
| Wisteria Wisteria | VineCut flower | Strong trellis; pruning. |
| Quince Chaenomeles | ShrubCut flowerNative | Early flowers; fruit. |
| Osmanthus Osmanthus fragrans | ShrubCut flowerNative | Fragrant autumn. |
| Tree peony Paeonia suffruticosa | ShrubCut flowerNative | Winter chill; deep soil. |
| Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum | PerennialCut flower | Autumn; pinching. |
| Mondo grass Ophiopogon | GroundcoverNative | Shade; edging. |
| Miscanthus Miscanthus sinensis | GrassNative | Autumn plumes. |
| Rice Oryza sativa | VegetableAnnual | Paddy; monsoon. |
| Bok choy Brassica rapa | Vegetable | Cool season. |
| Aubergine Solanum melongena | VegetableAnnual | Heat lover; staking and nematode rotation. |
| Welsh onion Allium fistulosum | Vegetable | Hardy; clumps. |
| Grape Vitis vinifera | VineFruit | Dry autumn. |
| Apple Malus domestica | FruitTree | Cool; frost risk. |
| Persimmon Diospyros kaki | TreeFruitNative | Autumn fruit. |
| Chestnut Castanea crenata | NutTreeNative | Acid; coppice. |
| Zoysia Zoysia japonica | TurfNative | Warm-season; shade. |
The eight disciplines here
| Discipline | What it looks like here | Taxa | Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garden Design 01 | Palette and practice for garden design in this climate. | 24 | Discipline guide |
| Floriculture 02 | Palette and practice for floriculture in this climate. | 11 | Discipline guide |
| Vegetables & Herbs 03 | Palette and practice for vegetables & herbs in this climate. | 4 | Discipline guide |
| Fruit & Viticulture 04 | Palette and practice for fruit & viticulture in this climate. | 6 | Discipline guide |
| Arboriculture 05 | Palette and practice for arboriculture in this climate. | 13 | Discipline guide |
| Turfgrass 06 | Palette and practice for turfgrass in this climate. | 1 | Discipline guide |
| Nursery & Propagation 07 | Palette and practice for nursery & propagation in this climate. | 21 | Discipline guide |
| Water-wise & Restoration 08 | Palette and practice for water-wise & restoration in this climate. | 21 | Discipline guide |
Professional bodies and standards
Japanese Society for Horticultural Science (JSHS) · Japanese Institute of Landscape Architecture (JILA) · Chinese Society for Horticultural Science (CSHS)
Design idiom
Zōen, karesansui, classical Chinese garden, penjing.
Sources
Other regions
Australasia · Atlantic Europe · Continental Europe · Nordic & Boreal · all 16 regions