Kusamono / Shitakusa - Accent Plants

Kusamono is a collection of small potted plants that are designed to be viewed alongside bonsai or displayed on their own. Kusamono translated literally means "grass thing" and shitakusa means "undergrass".

The term kusamono is used when plants (usually less formal planting containing a mix of grasses, mosses and flowering plants) are the focus of the display.

The term shitakusa is used when plants are displayed as an accompaniment to bonsai displays. Shitakusa are often less fussy in their arrangement and may just contain moss or a simple grass. Such simple arrangements should not detract from the bonsai with which shitakusa are displayed.

Both kusamono and shitakusa are grown in special pots, driftwood, or even rocks and stones and the plants used typically include moss, grass, lichen, minature ferns, minature hostas and minature orchids.

Recommended accent plants

• Japanese sweet flag (Acorus gramineus)
• Dwarf / Minature Hosta (Hosta sp.)
• Rabbits-foot and hare's-foot ferns (Davallia sp.)
• Various mosses