Chinese Gardens: Use typical Chinese horticultural and garden accent selections. Place those icons in appropriate formal, estate, natural, and rural or city gardens.

The basic form of Chinese landscape architecture is not nearly as well defined or as well known as the Japanese form is. There are however, some similarities and many very specific design icons that will reflect the Chinese culture. The selection of plant material is an easy starting point when you are selecting a palette as so many desirable plants used throughout the world originated in China. Plants such as hibiscus, gardenias, pittosporum and of course the citrus tree originated there. Chinese gardens have a tendency to use a large expanse of flowering beds or numerous flowering tree arrangements.  This garden design also have a tendency to incorporate a sophisticated formality mixed with informal touches or a nature inspired garden infused with indigenous cultural accents. But, just as China is a vast and complex nation resisting any attempt to pigeon hole their culture, so is their garden scenes just as varied and complex.  Look to China’s long and wondrous history as well as its present culture to select Chinese landscape architecture objects or accents that will set the tone for your garden. Selection of a major sculpture such as a reproduction of a Chinese General from the terra cotta army found at Xian can set the mood quite well. Use a variety of wonderful Chinese painted vases and pots. Gates and arbors with wood support detail containing typical Chinese shapes and designs can be very strong visual clues in the garden.

If the landscape design professional is attempting to create an important “top of the mark” cultural garden where serious scrutiny by observers is expected, it is advisable to consult with an expert in that garden design specialization.

Photo Palette Offerings

(Obviously, only a small sampling of related garden elements can reasonably be displayed, but the viewer should be able to use these as a springboard to develop their own design palette.)

Typical Chinese Garden Scenes

Typical Chinese Plants

Typical Chinese Hardscape Elements

Typical Chinese Decorative Elements