To create a contrast to the bonsai tree, highlight its shape and beauty, the Japanese traditionally use small compositions with an unpretentious floral-herbaceous decoration called shitakusa.

This technique is used when the dwarf tree is displayed to guests or at exhibitions. The idea of shitakusa is to show the part of nature where the bonsai tree grew. In the last years, shitakusa has become widespread and has started to appear as an independent composition from bonsai — Kusamono.

The word itself comes from the conjunctions “kusa” (grass) and “mono” (joy). Now, kusamono is one of the developments in the art of flowers, with its own forms, elements, and rules. The main idea of kusamono is to give a piece of wild nature through “objects”, to show a certain landscape or season. In a small vase, using appropriate plants, you can show a mountain, a forest, a meadow, or a marsh. Material — grass, moss, stones, twigs, flowers, etc. The growing popularity of Kusamono lies behind the fact that miniature landscaping does not require a lot of material costs and time, but attracts with its uniqueness. Unlike shitakusa, bright colors and originality are welcome, but the minimum number of elements (maximum three) is respected. The color of the plant is used to convey the appropriate season of nature. Mixing plants and elements representing different natural zones, such as succulents combined with meadow flowers, is not allowed.

As in bonsai art, the container plays a special role in kusamono. It must be original, uncomplicated and as if taken from nature, such as broken fragments of vintages, recessed stones, embossed tree bark or fragments of old trees.
In recent years, Kusamono art has taken on a role equal to that of trees in international dwarf exhibitions and has attracted a great deal of interest.