Coffin Tree Taiwania cryptomerioides
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- tie-WHAN-ee-a krip-to-me-ree-OI-deez
- Description
-
Taiwania cryptomerioides, or Taiwania, is an evergreen conifer in the cypress family and is related to the California Redwoods. It is native to Taiwan (the origin of its genus name) where it grows to 180 feet in the wild, but much shorter (30 to 40 feet) in cultivation.The juvenile needles resemble Cryptomeria japonica (Japanese red cedar). The tree features a conical to columnar crown, dark gray-brown bark that exfoliates in strips and dimorphic (having two forms) leaves. This tree is rarely found in domestic commercial establishments. Within its range, it is rather winter hardy and can be grown as an ornamental.
Best grown in moist, rich, acidic well-drained soil in full sun, although it does tolerate light shade. Do not allow the soil to dry out and plant in a location protected from winter winds.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Taiwania
- Species:
- cryptomerioides
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Canopy tree. The wood is valuable, which has lead to extensive logging and endangerment of the species.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South Central China, Myanmar, Taiwan, and Viet Nam
- Dimensions:
- Height: 100 ft. 0 in. - 180 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Columnar
- Conical
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
-
-
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:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- more than 60 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Cones (to 1/2 inch long) do not appear until branches with flattened, scale-like leaves are produced. Cones contain 15 to 30 scales with two seeds per scale.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- Does not flower
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Prickly
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Subulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Prickly, blue-green, juvenile leaves are subulate (awl-shaped) to falcate (sickle-shaped) and sharp-pointed, but become scale-like in appearance as the tree matures (dimorphic foliage). Needles are less than an inch long; needle-like or awl-like on young trees up to about 100 years old, then gradually becoming more scale-like.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Design Feature:
- Accent
