Hello Linda!

I would find nothing wrong with including the pampas grass into the landscape. Japanese gardens aren't only based on the plants used. You can create one using the same principles involving texture, composition, etc. but with different plants!

-Audric

Linda -

I distinctly remember seeing one picture of a temple in Japan with what looked like Pampas grass growing near it - and I think there was a pond too. It was probably at the Rubens website. If I find it again, I'll post the URL.

Herb

Thank you Audric and Herb.
Herb, I look forward to seeing the website.

Linda

Hi all.
pampas grass will not fit in Japanese Garden.beside blade/leaf of pampas grass is very sharp and create mean cut. It is too bulky. size,texure,color everythig will not fit in Japanese garden................mike

Linda,

The only picture I've found so far is one taken at Ginkakuji - but it doesn't look as big as Pampas Grass. It may be that the other plant that I saw near another temple was just a bigger version of this plant - but it was certainly bigger & more luxurious. Anyway, here's the picture of the one at Ginkakuji -
Click here to see it

Linda,

I forgot to include the Rubens URL. In light of what Mike says, I can't guarantee that you'll find Pampas grass in it, but it does have hundreds - maybe thousands - of Japanese garden pictures that you may enjoy looking at & that may perhaps be useful -

http://rubens.anu.edu.au/htdocs/bycountry/japan/details1.html

I looked at Herb's picture, and that's not pampas grass. It's Miscanthus, and that does have traditional uses in Japan. Pampas grass, Cortaderia selloana, is native to South America.

Fran

Thank you very much everyone for your comments. This pretty much confirms my feelings about the Pampas and my ideas of a Japanese garden / pond. It just doesn't look right and these 3 Pampas are huge, mature ones, too. I'm really looking forward to transplanting these. Not. :)

Hi Linda.

Susuki/miscanathus works well in J garden .
Many plants used in J garden are take heavy pruning.
Susuki also has very sharp edge.
Plese carefull not to cut your skin. Enjoy gardening ....mike

Linda - I wouldn't even think of transplanting them! I'd get somebody to cut them down to the ground - maybe with a chain saw if that will work - or, if you're allowed to, & the leaves are reasonably dry, & it's otherwise safe to do so - set fire to them & burn them to the ground. Then dig the roots out. Herb

Thanks, Herb. Even better.