Habitat

• native to central and southern Japan
• zone 3

Habit and Form

• evergreen tree
• broad conical tree with branches held horizontally from main trunk
• 50' to 75' tall, and half as wide
• slow growth rate
• medium texture

Summer Foliage

• 0.5" to 1" long flattened needles
• entire margins
• bluish green color
• two, wide white stomatal bands on underside that are prominant
• needle apex is notched
• needles densely crown stem with lower needles spreading outward and inner needles erect and shorter
• resinous buds

Autumn Foliage

• no fall color (evergreen)

Flowers

• no ornamental value
• monoecious

Fruit

• purplish brown cones
• 2" to 3" long
• slightly tapered cylindrical shape
• sessile

Bark

• smooth light gray bark
• resin blisters
• new stems are greenish brown and covered in pubescence

Culture

• prefers moist, well-drained, acidic soil
• relatively easily transplanted
• prefers acidic soil
• full sun is best

Landscape Uses

• specimen
• park tree

Liabilities

• dislikes high pH
• hard to find commercially
• often damaged by deer

ID Features

• needles have notched tip
• purple cones
• circular leaf scars
• tiny black hairs on stem tips (use hand lens)
• smooth light gray bark with resin blisters

Propagation

• by seed, stratification is beneficial

Cultivars/Varieties

• none