Discover the Yokohama Nursery Co.’s historic catalogues, showcasing Japan’s exquisite plant life through detailed, colourful vintage botanical illustrations.
The vintage botanical prints in this collection are from various editions of the Yokohama Nursery Co. annual plant catalogue. These catalogues are from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Yokohama Nursery Co. was esteemed for its extensive collection of Japanese plants, including ornamental trees, vibrant flowers, and the revered bonsai, which they distributed globally.
![Vintage Garden Catalogue prints from the Yokohama Nursery](https://www.pictureboxblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/17-Yokohama-Garden-Catalogue-prints.jpg.webp)
The Yokohama Nursery Catalogue
These garden catalogues were not mere commercial listings but were crafted carefully, serving as a visual delight and an educational resource. The catalogues feature exquisite plant illustrations, offering insights into Japan’s rich botanical diversity. Now, these illustrations are available in the public domain, allowing us to access, download, and print them.
The Yokohama Nursery catalogues fit beautifully with Pictureboxblue’s vintage botanical collection, including vintage garden catalogue rose illustrations, many Japanese prints of florals like irises, and Kono Bairei’s birds and flowers.
The Yokohama Nursery, founded in 1890 by Uhei Suzuki and colleagues in Yokohama, quickly became a leader in Japan’s modern horticulture scene. Opening a San Francisco office that year, they introduced bonsai at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, showcasing many maples and irises in America’s first Japanese garden.
The Nursery printed luxurious catalogues featuring woodblock prints of plants, essential cultural information, and various gardening products. These catalogues, evolving to include multiple illustrations, became a crucial part of their identity until the mid-1920s, reflecting their commitment to quality and the introduction of Japanese gardening aesthetics to the West.
These vintage botanical prints are perfect for wall decor, garden inspiration, or as a reference for crafters and artists. Enjoy these stunning floral paintings and illustrations from the Yokohama Nursery catalogue.
How To Download The Botanical Prints
Click on the title above the image you want to download. A higher-resolution picture will appear in a new window. You can then download and print that illustration.
Colourful Catalogue Prints 1-6
In Japanese culture, the iris holds deep significance, symbolizing courage and good fortune. The flower is celebrated during the Tango no Sekku festival, Boys’ Day, where iris leaves are used in traditional baths to ward off evil spirits and promote health and strength.
The iris’s elegant shape and vibrant colours also inspire many Japanese artworks and garden designs, embodying the beauty and spiritual depth of Japanese aesthetics.
![four iris flowers in violet, red, white and blue and a japanese greenhouse](https://www.pictureboxblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Various-iris-flowers-s.jpg.webp)
Maple leaves, or “Momiji,” have a profound significance in Japanese culture, symbolizing life’s beauty and ephemeral nature. They are especially celebrated in the autumn when the Japanese tradition of “Momijigari” viewing of autumn foliage. This brings people together to admire the stunning display of red, orange, and yellow leaves.
![10 different varieties of maple leaves in red, yellow orange and red. From the Yokohoma Nursery Catalogue](https://www.pictureboxblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Various-maple-leaves-s.jpg.webp)
“The Japanese Cherry, remarkable for its softness and exuberance of its flower, blooming in the warm, pleasant spring days of April as contrasted with the severe simplicity of P. Mume of the snow-clad landscape. The Cherry is fine for avenue planting with profuse flowers and deciduous leaves. More than 20 double and single varieties are known; those mentioned below are some of the choicest sorts.“
The site has a collection of vintage cherry blossom illustrations and even a tutorial on how to draw cherry blossoms.
![Three varieties of cherry blossom, one branch of blossom a potted blossoming plant and a close up of the flower. From Yokahoma Nursery](https://www.pictureboxblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/cherry-blossom-yokohoma-nursery-catalogue-s.jpg.webp)
This print of lotus flowers in a pond is the back cover of one of the Yokohama Nursery catalogues.
![red and white lotus flowers in a pond painting](https://www.pictureboxblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/lotus-flowers-s.jpg.webp)
Various varieties of lily flowers. Find more vintage lily illustrations here.
![three different varieties of lily flowers painting](https://www.pictureboxblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ilies-yokohame-nursery-catalogue-s.jpg.webp)
![painting of 2 blue iris flowers from a garden catalogue](https://www.pictureboxblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/blue-irisflower-Yokohama-Nursery-s.jpg.webp)
Colourful Catalogue Prints 7-12
Three varieties of cherry blossom.
![Three varieties of cherry blossom garden catalogue paintings](https://www.pictureboxblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/flowering-cherry-Yokohama-catalogue-s.jpg.webp)
Print 8: Japanese Porcelain Flower Pots
A collection of Japanese porcelain flower pots from the Yokohama garden catalogue.
![a collection of empty vintage Japanese flower pots from the Yokohama garden catalogue](https://www.pictureboxblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Japanese-Porcelain-Flower-pOts-s.jpg.webp)
![Japanese Rose Yokohama Nursery](https://www.pictureboxblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Japanese-Rose-yokohama-nursery-s.jpg.webp)
In Japanese culture, magnolia flowers hold a serene and dignified place, symbolizing purity, nobility, and perseverance. These elegant blooms are often found in temple gardens and are revered for their subtle beauty and graceful presence.
You’ll find more magnolia prints here.
![two white magnolia flowers on a tree](https://www.pictureboxblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Magnolia-flower-s.jpg.webp)
![Herbaceous Peonies Yokohama Nursery catalogue](https://www.pictureboxblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/herbacious-peonies-Yokohama-Nursery-s.jpg.webp)
Print 12: Anemonopsis Macrophylla
Anemonopsis macrophylla, also known as the false anemone, is a cherished plant in Japan, native to its cool, mountainous regions. It’s celebrated in Japanese gardens for its elegant, pale lavender to creamy white flowers that bloom in late summer.
This plant embodies the tranquility and grace of Japanese garden design, thriving in shaded areas to bring serene beauty and a sense of harmony to garden spaces.
![Anemonopsis Macrophylla Yokohama Nursery catalogue](https://www.pictureboxblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Anemonopsis-Macrophylla-s.jpg.webp)
Black & White Garden Catalogue Illustrations 13-17
Here you’ll find a collection of vintage peony paintings.
![Tree Peony black and white garden catalogue illustration](https://www.pictureboxblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/tree-Peony-Yokohoma-Nursery-s.jpg.webp)
Rhapis Humilis also known as the “slender lady palm” is a good houseplant, growing well in containers and low light conditions. This easy to grow plant is native to China.
Find more palm tree prints here.
![slender lady palm in pot](https://www.pictureboxblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rhapis-Humilis-Yokohama-Nursery-s-1.jpg.webp)
![Three potted bonsai trees a black and white illustration from a garden catalogue](https://www.pictureboxblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/various-bonsai-trees-s.jpg.webp)
“Golden Pheasant” yellow Chrysanthemum drawing. You’ll find more chrysanthemum botanical illustrations here.
![Black and white drawing of a yellow Chrysanthemum flower](https://www.pictureboxblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/chrysanthemum-yellow-s.jpg.webp)
The Japanese camellia, or Camellia japonica, is a beloved flower in Japan, symbolizing love, admiration, and perfection. Its glossy, evergreen leaves and stunning, rosette-like blooms in shades of red, pink, and white make it a centerpiece in many Japanese gardens. Revered for its winter blooms, the camellia adds vibrant color and life to the colder months.
![Japanese Camellia](https://www.pictureboxblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Japanese-Camellia-s.jpg.webp)
Other Related Prints
If you are interested in vintage garden catalogues, you’ll enjoy this site’s collection of vintage seed packets.
The site has an extensive collection of vintage flower illustrations. If you like to craft with them, check out these Botanical craft ideas.
You’ll find all the other Vintage Japanese Themed prints here.
If you fancy, you can Buy Me A Coffee Here.
Catherine Sokolowski
Saturday 6th of April 2024
I loved looking, and reading about the prints you highlighted. They are all so beautiful. It is so nice to know that we can download these when we want our own copy.
claire
Saturday 6th of April 2024
Thank you, that is lovely to hear. I just love finding beautiful vintage images.
Christine
Wednesday 3rd of April 2024
These are fabulous. Thank you for sharing them.
claire
Wednesday 3rd of April 2024
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed them.
sandra magle
Wednesday 3rd of April 2024
What a find!!! These are gorgeous, and I kept quite a few for my files. Thanks, from Vintage Charm, Sandi
claire
Wednesday 3rd of April 2024
Thank you, I'd love to see what you do with them.