Meditation gardens are a great way to connect with nature while allowing you to relax and practice mindfulness. The plants that you select are the first step in creating a space for meditation outdoors. Here are some plants that will help you get started.

The Japanese maple tree provides shade for this meditation garden.

This question was sent to me by a reader. It was so good that I decided to devote a post to it.

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I’m interested in creating a space for meditation in my garden. What plants, herbs, cut flowers, and sensory-enhancing plants should I use for this area?

A meditation Garden will allow you to feel closer to nature. The sound of a bird washing its feathers in the birdbath or the smell of lavender in bloom is just a few examples. You will feel the crisp air filtering through your lungs and the wind tickling your ears.

Nature is a great way to improve your mental health. It has been shown to reduce anxiety, stress, and depression.

Meditation outdoors has many benefits, both from nature and from meditation. You can get two for the price of one.

Japanese Gardens have a calming effect, and I am inspired by their design. Below are many Japanese examples of what plants to use in meditation gardens.

The list of plants to use in a meditation garden will quickly become apparent as a guide to planting with intention. Please continue reading to find out what I’m talking about!

This post will cover…

Sensory Plants… to an Extent

The person who asked the question wanted to know about sensory plants. They are plants designed to awaken the senses and cause an immediate response.

Sensory plant for children’s garden is my favorite because it encourages them to engage with the gardens actively. However, I find these elements distracting in a space meant to promote meditation. By removing the sensory details, your meditative space will be more balanced.

If you want to create a sensory garden for meditation, I suggest plants with relaxing properties according to their scent. This includes:

• Lavender
• Jasmine
• Chamomile
• Rose
• Hops

Chamomile is popularly known as a sleep aid.

Native Plants

We feel pressured in meditative areas to have everything perfect. The garden must be spotless and the space perfectly arranged.

This is the opposite of what the garden was intended to be. The garden should be a place of comfort and relaxation.

Native plants will make your garden low-maintenance. They will thrive on their own, and you won’t need to do much extra work to keep them happy.

The Japanese garden at UBC combines plants from the Pacific Northwest with Japanese plants, such as cherry trees and azaleas. Finding the right balance is critical!

Rain gardens and xeriscaping are also low-maintenance options.

Rain gardens absorb rainwater and filter it.

Climbing plants

It is a critical component of creating a meditation space. It ensures that the area feels private and distinct from the rest. Include plants that will help you achieve this separation.

I use climbing plants to create specific spaces. You can use them to cover your privacy screen or fence or to make the entrance of your meditation garden by climbing over a trellis.

Here are a few of the climbing plants I like to grow.

• Sweet pea
• Wisteria
• Hops
• Clematis
• Ivy
• Honeysuckle
• Climbing roses

You can plant climbing plants and shrubs to create a low wall to separate your meditation area from the rest.

Blue Light Clematis. This is a perfect flower to mark the entrance to your sanctuary.

Plants with a Colour-Theme

You’ll see a lot of green in Japanese gardens. Green is everywhere, from the moss growing between the stones on the path to the aquatic plants in the pond.

This choice is made to promote a relaxed environment where your senses are not overloaded. Nothing will distract you with a single palette. The atmosphere is washed over you.

Green, blue, and violet are all known to be very relaxing colors.

Avoid using bright colors like reds, oranges, pinks, and yellows. If you use these colors, keep them warmer and softer tones.

Other than color, you can choose to create different themes. For example, a garden made entirely of not-too-fragrant flowers or a moon garden where everything comes alive at night.

The Japanese garden is lush from the top of the trees to its mossy ground.

Plants with Energy

Each item has its force. All the elements must be in harmony to achieve balance. In Japanese gardens is called kisei. Kenzo Ogata, a landscape designer, and Hoichi Kurisu, a landscape architect, popularized this term.

Kisei can be expressed vertically, horizontally, or in combination. Identify each item’s kisei when choosing plants for your meditation garden. Each item, group of plants, or garden design can have its key.

Ma is a Japanese technique that can be used in all areas of your life. The intentional space between items. It can be something physical, like how far you space your things apart, or more intangible, like the lack of sound. This is the overall experience and feeling that your garden gives you.

When I think about kisei, I picture plants with direct lines leading the energy in and out of your yard. This could include: