Habitat

• native to Japan
• zone 5

Habit and Form

• evergreen tree
• 30' to 50' tall and somewhat narrow; can grow to 100' or more
• tree is densely covered in branches from base to top
• pyramidal in shape even in old age
• medium texture

Summer Foliage

• roughly 1" long
• entire margins
• glossy, dark green
• 2 broad stomatal bands on underside
• needle apex is notched
• needles densely cover stem, denser than most firs
• needles held horizontally on branch are longer than those held vertical.

Autumn Foliage

• no fall color (evergreen)

Flowers

• no ornamental value
• monoecious

Fruit

• light brown cones
• 4" long
• cylindrical in shape
• hidden bracts

Bark

• new stems are yellow with an indented diamond pattern
• new stems are glabrous
• older bark is rough and scaly
• brown in color
• young bark is smooth with resin blisters

Culture

• prefers moist, well-drained loam
• full sun
• prefers cooler climates
• fairly wind tolerant, except for drying winter winds

Landscape Uses

• nice accent tree
• park tree
• screen
• massing

Liabilities

• often damaged by deer
• dislikes high pH
• hard to locate plants

ID Features

• needles have notched tip
• very evident grooves in new stems
• very dense needles
• circular leaf scars
• buds are conical and resinous
• needle length shortens towards tip of stem, giving a tapered appearance
• yellowish new stem color

Propagation

• by seed

Cultivars/Varieties

None commonly available, but dwarf and spreading forms are known, such as 'Prostrata'.