Microbiota decussata
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- my-kro-by-OH-tah dee-koo-SAY-tah
- Description
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The Russian arborvitae is a dwarf evergreen conifer. It forms a feathery groundcover with a graceful branch pattern. Its genus name comes from the Greek micro meaning small and Biota an obsolete name for Platycladus.
It has feathery dull green foliage with a graceful branch pattern and soft texture; the foliage turns bronze to burgundy in winter when grown in sun It has a small scale-like, awl-shaped leaflet; branchlets are arranged in flattened sprays.
Plant in full sun to part shade; it requires moist well-drained soil. It is more shade tolerant than groundcover junipers.
VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Microbiota
- Species:
- decussata
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Northern Primorye
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 9 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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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 Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- iny, spherical, berry-like cones with scales
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Insignificant
- Flower Description:
- Grown for foliage
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- small scale-like awl-shaped leaflet; branchlets arranged in flattened sprays; bronzy-purple to burgundy to brown in winter
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Slope/Bank
