learn about feng shui plants and how to make a feng shui garden in this informative article. you can also make changes to your existing garden according to feng shui.
Start with the parts of your garden you would like to change, grow feng shui plants there and apply the principles given below and see how it works.
what is feng shui
Feng Shui is an art of reaching harmony in life, a practice that comes from the China. It is believed that if a place (home, garden, office or anywhere) is arranged according to the Feng Shui guidelines it remains, prosperous, peaceful and harmonious.
Reading: Feng shui outdoor plants
principles of a feng shui garden
A feng shui garden is a garden that is organized into 9 areas or zones. each one represents a universe, a kingdom of life through shapes, objects and colors. the feng shui garden must respect nature and be in harmony with it.
the 5 elements
In Feng Shui, there are five basic elements- Fire, Water, Metal, Earth and Wood. They maintain harmony in the world around us and influence our lives. Therefore, in the feng shui garden design, these five elements must have to be in order in their zones.
division
According to the Feng Shui practice, the garden (or a home) must be divided into the nine energy zones. Draw a free-flowing square similar to the shape of your garden and divide that square into 9 equal parts.
The map will start from your garden gate, consider your gate direction as north and align the feng shui (bagua) map accordingly. the central area or zone will be called tai chi (the source of energy and life). the other eight areas or zones will surround it.
division of the garden into nine feng shui zones
Each zone represents an area of life and you must give space to the appropriate elements there.
north
the north is the area that represents fame, career and the flow and mystery of life. symbolizes the winter season. must have to be in the front of the entrance. its dominant element is water and its color is blue, violet, black and other dark colors. the shape is sinuous and the elements to integrate here are a water source or a pond, rocks, aquatic plants, plants with dark foliage and blue flowers.
northeast
the northeast represents wisdom and knowledge. the dominant element here is earth and its colors are yellow, orange and cream. the shape is square. garden benches, flower pots and statues can be placed here. As the northeast direction represents wisdom, it is the place for meditation and yoga.
northwest
the northwestern part symbolizes support, friendship, guidance and represents the fall season. the dominant element here is metal and the colors that will be there mainly are white, grey, golden brown and silver. plants such as jasmine, gardenia or magnolia can be planted here. rocks, gravel and metal objects are best suited here.
South
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South is the direction of success and fame and represents summer. the dominant element here is fire and the main colors here are red, orange, purple and pink. there should be grown plants that have red or other similar colors like orange, pink, crimson, purple. the shape of the southern zone is the triangle.
southeast
the southeast symbolizes wealth and represents the spring season. its dominant element is wood and its color is green and brown. you can grow here the plants that are related to this color.
South West
the southwest is the area that symbolizes love, purity and attraction between a couple. the dominant element here is earth and the colors should be yellow, orange, pink and others. the shape of the south west area is square and in this area you should keep your furniture and garden objects in pairs to symbolize parity.
this
This area represents health and the spring season. its dominant element is wood whose color is green (symbol of harmony and balance). its shape is the rectangle. this is the area where you can grow medicinal plants, herbs, foliage plants, and large trees like palms, plums, and bamboos.
west
This is the family area. its main element is metal and its color is white (which symbolizes purity, freshness and harmony). you can also use gray and silver color here. the shape of the west zone is the circle. put some flower pots, bells, rocks and wrought iron furniture. plant bushes here. grow different colored flowers along with whiter ones. magnolia, jasmine and lily of the valley are perfect for this area.
central zone
Keep the central area open and less cluttered, as this is the highlight. this is the tai chi area. the key element here is the earth and its color is yellow. this area represents unity, harmony and balance. connects all areas of the feng shui garden. this should be kept clean and maintained regularly.
Feng Shui Garden Design
A feng shui garden must not be overloaded, otherwise the chi (life energy) will circulate poorly. keep the design simple.
To keep the energy flowing, you need to promote movement in the garden. make curved paths and edges. invite butterflies, bees and birds. put feeders, grow fruit trees and flowers to attract them.
In addition, statues and sculptures also attract positive energy. its size should be proportional to the garden. the large pots and urns are the possessors of luck and abundance. so prefer the larger ones.
Water is an essential element in the feng shui garden. it is a symbol of prosperity. it takes place in the form of a stream, waterfall or pond and must be there in the right area.
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The garden should be open, full of brightness and natural light. hallways and entrances should not be blocked by any objects or trees. to bring nature in, large rocks and gravel should be used.
Feng Shui Garden Plants According to Elements 
The feng shui garden is full of positive energy and provides the perfect harmony of the five elements. the plants you grow in your garden must be consistent with these elements. We offer you some examples of the plants that best represent the five elements.
some popular feng shui plants
- bamboo
- peony
- maple tree
- plum
- orchid
- chrysanthemum
- iris
- lily
- lotus
- narcissus
- magnolia
- jasmine
- gardenia
- pine
- citrus
- herbs
element 1. fire
feng shui garden: plants that represent fire
In general, plants with red bark and foliage or those with triangular or conical leaves represent the fire element. one of the most popular and beautiful examples of this is the Japanese maple (acer palmatum).
Japanese red cedar (cryptomeria japonica), red camellia, boxwood, holly, peonies, and geraniums are other favorite feng shui plants that represent fire.
Japanese Maple
Red camellia
element 2. water
plants that represent the water element
The color of the water element is blue, violet, black. Plants of these colors represent the water element. Here are some examples: Snake’s beard, Heuchera, taro (Colocasia esculenta), sweet potato vine, iris, lily, and lotus.
heuchera micrantha
Sweet Potato Vine
element 3. metal
Plants that represent the metal
Plants that represent metal in the feng shui garden are mainly those with round or oval leaves and white or light golden brown flowers. Plants like white hydrangeas, rhododendrons, many species of hostas, gardenias, white chrysanthemums, jasmine, and dogwoods represent metal.
Hosta
Dogwood Tree
Hydrangea
element 4. earth
plants that represent the earth
Plants with yellow flowers with similar colors or of earthy tones, those with square shaped foliage represent the Earth element in Feng Shui garden. A few of these plants that represent earth elements are Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’, Japanese laurel (Aucuba japonica), rhododendron, river birch (Betula nigra), Ginkgo biloba tree and grasses such as miscanthus.
Rhododendron ‘Admiral Semmes’
Miscanthus
Betula nigra
Aucuba japonica
element 5. wood
plants that represent wood in the garden
Plants with long thin stems and lush greenery such as Japanese bamboo (Pseudosasa Japonica), best represents the wood element in the Feng-shui garden. Palms, pine tree and other conifers, medicinal herbs and common lungwort (Pulmonaria Officinalis) are the plants well suited to represent the wood element in the garden.
Rosemary
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