Elegans Cryptomeria Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans Nana'
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- krip-toh-MER-ee-uh juh-PON-ih-kuh
- Description
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Dwarf Japanese cedar ‘Elegans Nana’ is a dwarf cultivar in the cypress family (Cupressaceae). It is a very slow-growing conifer evergreen shrub with a dense, rounded, flat-topped growth habit.
It prefers full sun or partial shade with neutral to acidic, well-drained, moist soil. Light afternoon shade and protection from strong, drying winter wind are recommended. This is a low-maintenance plant with a mature height and width of 4 to 7 feet. It requires little if any pruning to maintain its form. It is resistant to compaction, deer, diseases, drought, salt and urban conditions.
‘Elegans Nana’ has short, finely textured needles that are bluish-green in the summer and turn to a purple color in the fall. The bark on the current year’s growth is green, then darkens to brown. It has showy exfoliating bark.
This is an interesting specimen plant for smaller areas and containers. It can be used as an accent plant, along a border, around a lawn, patio or along walkways. It can also be used as a foundation plant. It is perfect for an Asian, rock or any drought-tolerant garden. It can also be used in a mass planting or in small groups.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: may be susceptible to mites, fungi, die back leaf spot and leaf blight. Leaf blight can cause foliage to turn brown. Blight can be avoided by locating plants in areas with good air circulation and avoiding wet foliage.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cryptomeria
- Species:
- japonica
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Male (pollen) cones are in clusters near the apex of branches and are oblong and scaly. Female (seed) cones are round, brown, rosette looking on terminal branches singly or in groups.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Acicular
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Juvenile foliage is a soft bluish-green in the summer turning to brown in the winter months. Mature growth is prickly. This evergreen shrub is compact appearing like a flat-topped globe.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Green
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Bark Description:
- The bark on the current year's growth is green, then darkens to brown. Showy exfoliating bark.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Smooth/Hairless
- Stem Description:
- Branches are whorled and horizontally spreading to slightly drooping. Branchlets are green the first year. Winter buds are small and non-scaly.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Lawn
- Patio
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Compaction
- Deer
- Diseases
- Drought
- Salt
- Urban Conditions
