Japanese artist's new series celebrates diversity of Malaysian plants and herbs

Japanese artist/illustrator Sanae Yamada's love for Malaysian plants and herbs began when she moved to the country over 20 years ago. Photo: Sanae Yamada

After almost 20 years of living in Malaysia, Japanese artist/illustrator Sanae Yamada has added many new specimens to the tropical plants catalogue in her mind. At her home in Negri Sembilan, she has a garden where she grows herbs like misai kuching (Orthosiphon aristatus) and butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea) to make into tea or use in food.

“I am also constantly finding new plants at the public gardens, roadside, neighbours’ gardens and the backyard of my mother-in-law’s house in Johor. Tropical plants often surprise me because of their unique shape and colours. Some of them also grow very quickly,” she says.