Issei Contributions to Pacific Northwest Horticulture: Stories for Asian American Native Hawai'ian Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Stories for Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month

In celebration of May’s AANHPI Heritage Month, Garden Guide Corinne Kennedy shares stories of Issei individuals and their families whose horticulturally-related businesses—including landscaping companies, plant nurseries, and greenhouses—made significant contributions to Pacific Northwest horticulture, garden design and public parks.

Rhododendron ‘Unique’ Has Lovely Ivory White Spring Flowers

The Seattle Japanese contains many “true” rhododendrons as well as azaleas (shrubs also in the genus Rhododendron). One of them is Rhododendron ‘Unique’, which has long been popular in the Pacific Northwest. It has very attractive evergreen foliage and charming ivory white flowers that open from pale salmon-pink buds.

New Flowering Cherries Planted in the Restored Meadow

Last month, the garden crew from Seattle Parks and Recreation completed the final phase of the meadow restoration project in the Japanese Garden. This involved the planting of 11 beautiful new flowering cherry trees in the upper section of the meadow, which overlooks the Moon Viewing Platform by the Garden’s pond.

Garden Maintenance, In the Garden, Plants and Blooms, SpringGuest UserJanuary 17, 2024cherry blossoms, Cherry, Trees

Satsuki Evergreen Azaleas Extend the Blooming Season of the Genus Rhododendron

With their elegant late May and June flowers, Satsuki evergreen azaleas extend the blooming season of the genus Rhododendron from late winter into early summer.

In the Garden, Japanese Culture, Plants and Blooms, SpringCorinne KennedyJune 28, 2022bloom, Azalea, Rhododendron

Empress Tree Blooms in Late Spring with Large, Pale Purple Foxglove-like Flowers

Paulownia tomentosa is a fast-growing deciduous tree with showy flowers and a long history in Asian folklore, tradition, and medicine. Its common names include empress tree, princess tree, royal paulownia, and foxglove tree.

In Mid-Spring, the Charming Red or Pink Flowers of Japanese Primrose Are a Bright Spot of Color in the Seattle Japanese Garden

Primula japonica is the best known and easiest to grow of the primrose species known as candelabras. Its charming red or pink mid-spring flowers are a bright spot of color in the Seattle Japanese Garden.

In the Garden, Japanese Culture, Plants and Blooms, SpringCorinne KennedyApril 20, 2022April, Spring, Seattle

‘Tsuma gaki’ Japanese Maple Has Glowing Spring Color

Spring has so much to offer in our gardens. Have you noticed what some maples show in springtime? Acer palmatum ‘Tsuma gaki’ has beautiful spring color, its yellow-green leaves tipped in brilliant red.

In the Garden, Japanese Garden Design, Plants and Blooms, Spring, SummerCorinne KennedyMarch 24, 2022March, Maple, summer, Spring

Cornus alba ‘Argenteo-marginata’ is a Shrub for All Seasons

When spring’s vibrant flowering has come to an end, visitors to the Seattle Japanese Garden experience the subtle beauty of its many shades of green. Now the shrub dogwood Cornus alba ‘Argenteo-marginata’ draws our attention. Its gray-green leaves edged in white are a luminous presence—as is the winter brilliance of its fiery red stems.

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