NABF Newsletter #9

Feature #4

Art of Kusamono Bonsai

Article by Young Choe
Photographs by Keiko Yamane

As we stroll through the mountains and valleys, we often see beautiful wildflowers in harmony with each other, and sometimes wish we could bring the enchanting, naturally-blending flora into our home. Kusa means grass and mono means things. So, literally, Kusamono means the potted arrangement of wild grasses and flowers. Kusamono bonsai has been known as a companion planting to a bonsai display, adding a bit of nature to the composition. It adds and complements the beauty of the primary bonsai subject.

Until approximately 20 years ago, bonsai artists utilized only a handful of grasses or wildflowers as decoration to go alongside the main bonsai plants. Mrs. Yamane Keiko of Japan shifted her focus to a new form of Kusamono bonsai that placed emphasis on the companion plants, mainly grasses and wildflowers. She is Japan's leading expert in the art of Kusamono bonsai. This art form is now gaining popularity in Japan and Korea, particularly among women and some bonsai enthusiasts.

Oenothera speciosa (Pink Evening Primrose)
Imperata cylindrica (Japanese Blood Grass)

The artistic skill of creating Kusamono bonsai involves knowing how best to select and arrange plants in the unique setting of a pot or tray so we can recreate and enjoy the beauty of nature in all of its glory. For example, one type of grass or flower can be planted by itself, or several different kinds of plants can be mixed and coordinated together with natural stones or small rocks.

There are many different styles of Kusamono bonsai. There can be style variations based on:

1. the seasons -- spring, summer, fall, winter;
2. plant type -- wetland & pond, woodland style, and open field; and
3. method of planting -- out-of-pot style, group planting in the pot, single planting, or "root-ball" style.

Arundinella hirta and Sanguisorba officinalis

How to design and display each type is up to each individual's taste and preference. It is important, however, to select plants that will allow one to enjoy the artistry of the Kusamono bonsai throughout the four seasons. This can be accomplished by mixing together plants that provide blossoms in spring, beautiful green grass for summer, warm autumn foliage, and the coolness of winter grass..

What began as a companion to bonsai display has developed into an art form of its own. Kusamono bonsai are often displayed for the public at formal bonsai exhibits and in art museums, or they can be enjoyed in the privacy of your own home. In Japan, Kusamono bonsai are often displayed in a Tokonoma which is an alcove in a Japanese room used for the display of paintings, pottery, flower arrangements, and other forms of art.

Primula sieboldii (Siebold's primrose)

Colorful seasonal arrangements allow one to enjoy a particular season or sense of place. We can enjoy Kusamono bonsai throughout the year by creative planting, unlike cut-flower arrangements that last only a short time. This art form provides a means of enjoying the outdoor beauty of living, natural flora. Kusamono Bonsai will give one a feeling of naturalness by expressing our artistic sensitivities with these wonderful representatives of the plant kingdom.