Cryptomeria japonica

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Cryptomeria japonica

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Zones 4-9, 14-24, 32-34, 39

Full

Moderate

Japanese Cryptomeria
Taxodiaceae
Evergreen, Trees

From Japan. Graceful conifer, fast growing (3 to 4 ft. a year) in youth. Eventually makes a skyline tree to 100 ft. tall, 30 ft. wide at base. Straight columnar trunk; thin red brown bark peels off in strips. Foliage soft bright green to bluish green in growing season, brownish purple in cold weather. Slightly pendulous branches are clothed in 1/2 to 1-in.-long, needlelike leaves. Roundish, red-brown cones are 3/4 to 1 in. wide. These trees are sometimes used in closely planted groves for a Japanese garden effect. Resistant to oak root fungus.

'Cristata'

Unusual, twisted,cockscomb-like growth atbranch ends. Grows into anupright cone 12–15 ft. tall,6–7 ft. wide, after 10 years,eventually twice as large.

'Elegans'

This tree is quite unlike species. Feathery, grayish green foliage turns rich coppery red or purplish in winter. Grows slowly into a dense pyramid 20 to 60 ft. tall, about 20 ft. wide. Trunks may lean or curve. For effective display, needs to be given room.

'Pygmaea' ('Nana')

Bushy dwarf1 1/2–2 ft. high, 2 1/2 ft. wide.Dark green, needlelike leaves;twisted branches.