Japanese Cedar Cryptomeria japonica
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- krip-toh-MER-ee-uh juh-PON-ih-kuh
- Description
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Japanese cedar is a woody, needled evergreen tree in the Cupressaceae (cypress) family that is native to central and south Japan and China. It may reach 50 to 70 feet tall and 20 to 30 feet wide with a conical to pyramidal shape.The genus name comes from the Greek krypto, meaning to hide, and meris, meaning a part in reference to the concealed position of the reproductive organs.
Japanese cedar prefers rich, moist, well-drained, acidic soils but is adaptable to other soil types. It grows well in dappled sunlight, full sun, or partial shade.The reddish-brown exfoliating bark can be quite attractive, and the wood is highly valued for building many things. This cedar is resistant to damage by deer and is slightly salt tolerant. It is generally considered low maintenance.
The soft, graceful habit of the Japanese cedar makes it ideal as a specimen tree in a lawn or naturalized area. It is a great alternative to the leyland cypress for screening purposes. Shorter cultivars are available.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves are saber shaped and turn in toward branch
- Male cones are in terminal clusters, round, ½ to 1 inch
- Leaves vary in length on same branch
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Problems may include leaf spot, leaf blight, and fungi.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Patio Room Container Gardens
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- ‘Ben Franklin’
Good green winter color, is salt tolerant, 30-40' tall. - 'Black Dragon'
- 'Chapel View'
- 'Compacta'
40 ft. tall - ‘Dacrydioides’
Long snake-like branches ending in spray of smaller, similar branchlets. - 'Dragon Prince'
- 'Elegans'
15-20 ft. tall - 'Elegans Aurea'
15-20 ft. tall
'Elegans Nana'
- 'Giokumo'
- 'Globosa'
- 'Nana Albospica'
White tipped - ‘Radicans’
Glaucous, blue-green leaves, tree-like habit. - 'Tenzan'
- 'Yoshino'
30-50 ft. tall
Flat-topped
Bluish-green needles becoming rusty-red during the winter months 'Magic Dragon'
Bright green needles remain that turn an attractive red-bronze color in the winter - ‘Ben Franklin’
- ‘Ben Franklin’, 'Black Dragon', 'Chapel View', 'Compacta', ‘Dacrydioides’, 'Dragon Prince', 'Elegans', 'Elegans Aurea', 'Elegans Nana', 'Giokumo', 'Globosa', 'Globosa Nana', 'Magic Dragon', 'Nana Albospica', ‘Radicans’, 'Tenzan', 'Yoshino'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- ‘Ben Franklin’
Good green winter color, is salt tolerant, 30-40' tall. - 'Black Dragon'
- 'Chapel View'
- 'Compacta'
40 ft. tall - ‘Dacrydioides’
Long snake-like branches ending in spray of smaller, similar branchlets. - 'Dragon Prince'
- 'Elegans'
15-20 ft. tall - 'Elegans Aurea'
15-20 ft. tall
'Elegans Nana'
- 'Giokumo'
- 'Globosa'
- 'Nana Albospica'
White tipped - ‘Radicans’
Glaucous, blue-green leaves, tree-like habit. - 'Tenzan'
- 'Yoshino'
30-50 ft. tall
Flat-topped
Bluish-green needles becoming rusty-red during the winter months 'Magic Dragon'
Bright green needles remain that turn an attractive red-bronze color in the winter - ‘Ben Franklin’
- ‘Ben Franklin’, 'Black Dragon', 'Chapel View', 'Compacta', ‘Dacrydioides’, 'Dragon Prince', 'Elegans', 'Elegans Aurea', 'Elegans Nana', 'Giokumo', 'Globosa', 'Globosa Nana', 'Magic Dragon', 'Nana Albospica', ‘Radicans’, 'Tenzan', 'Yoshino'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cryptomeria
- Species:
- japonica
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Highly valued wood for building many different things
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & South Japan and China
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This tree is resistant to damage by deer and is slightly salt tolerant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Conical
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- 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)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- 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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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- monoecious, with male and female cones
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Smooth
- Soft
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Acicular
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 3/4 inch evergreen bright or blue-green needles are spirally arranged and awl-shaped. They are 4-angled and curve inward with a slight twist. Needles persist for 4-5 years. May develop bronze tones in the winter. First needles produced each year are shorter than later produced needles.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Bark Description:
- Reddish-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:
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Diseases
- Salt
