College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources

Plant Database

Cryptomeria japonica

Japanese Cryptomeria, Japanese Cedar

Taxodiaceae

Japanese Cryptomeria, Japanese CedarJapanese Cryptomeria, Japanese CedarJapanese Cryptomeria, Japanese CedarJapanese Cryptomeria, Japanese CedarJapanese Cryptomeria, Japanese CedarJapanese Cryptomeria, Japanese CedarJapanese Cryptomeria, Japanese CedarJapanese Cryptomeria, Japanese CedarJapanese Cryptomeria, Japanese CedarJapanese Cryptomeria, Japanese Cedar
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Habitat

  • native to China and Japan
  • hardy to zone 6

Habit and Form

  • an evergreen coniferous tree
  • pyramidal or conical with a single trunk
  • dense when young, developing more clustered, tiered branching with age
  • has a graceful habit
  • medium texture

Summer Foliage

  • evergreen, spirally arranged, awl-shaped needles
  • needles are 4-angled and curve inward with a slight twist
  • needles persist 4 to 5 years
  • the first needles produced each year are shorter than later needles
  • dark green to bluish-green color; glossy

Autumn Foliage

  • evergreen foliage develops a distinct bronze to brown color during cold months, especially in windy exposed locations
  • foliage regreens in the spring

Flowers

  • monoecious, with male and female flowers
  • inconspicuous

Fruit

  • terminal cones are produced
  • cones are 0.5" to 1" diameter and are globe-shaped
  • color is dark brown

Bark

  • a very nice reddish-brown
  • it shreds in long strips, not unlike Chamaecyparis sp.
  • quite showy

Culture

  • prefers a rich, deep, moist soil that is light and contains significant organic matter
  • full sun is best
  • protection from wind is essential
  • likes a moderated environment

Landscape Use

  • as a specimen tree
  • for decoration
  • could be used in groupings as a large screen

Liabilities

  • most notable is the limitation of insufficient cold hardiness for exposed locations in zone 6 or colder
  • winter burn and injury
  • possibly difficult to find
  • retained dead foliage can detract

ID Features

  • evergreen, spirally-arranged needles persist 4 to 5 years
  • conical shape with tufted or plumed foliage
  • red-brown shredding bark
  • distinct bronze color in cold months

Propagation

  • by seed
  • by cuttings

Cultivars/Varieties

'Lobbii' - This is a fastigiate/columnar form, growing to 30' tall and much less wide. The foliage is deep green, bronzing in cold weather.

'Vilmoriniana' - A compact form to about 3' tall. Has dense foliage that turns a mottled gold and purple color in the fall. A good rock garden plant. Numerous other dwarf selections exist with slight variations on this dwarf theme.

'Yoshino' - Perhaps the most commonly available form in New England nurseries. The summer foliage is blue-green and it bronzes in winter to a purplish-brown hue. Reports indicate fast growth and pyramidal habit to 30' tall.

© Copyright Mark H. Brand, 1997-2015.

The digital materials (images and text) available from the UConn Plant Database are protected by copyright. Public use via the Internet for non-profit and educational purposes is permitted. Use of the materials for profit is prohibited.

Citation and Acknowledgements: University of Connecticut Plant Database, https://plantdatabase.uconn.edu/, Mark H. Brand, Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, Storrs, CT 06269-4067 USA.