Habitat

• native to China and Japan
• hardy to zone 6

Habit and Form

• an evergreen coniferous tree
• pyramidal or conical with a single trunk
• dense when young, developing more clustered, tiered branching with age
• has a graceful habit
• medium texture

Summer Foliage

• evergreen, spirally arranged, awl-shaped needles
• needles are 4-angled and curve inward with a slight twist
• needles persist 4 to 5 years
• the first needles produced each year are shorter than later needles
• dark green to bluish-green color; glossy

Autumn Foliage

• evergreen foliage develops a distinct bronze to brown color during cold months, especially in windy exposed locations
• foliage regreens in the spring

Flowers

• monoecious, with male and female flowers
• inconspicuous

Fruit

• terminal cones are produced
• cones are 0.5" to 1" diameter and are globe-shaped
• color is dark brown

Bark

• a very nice reddish-brown
• it shreds in long strips, not unlike Chamaecyparis sp.
• quite showy

Culture

• prefers a rich, deep, moist soil that is light and contains significant organic matter
• full sun is best
• protection from wind is essential
• likes a moderated environment

Landscape Use

• as a specimen tree
• for decoration
• could be used in groupings as a large screen

Liabilities

• most notable is the limitation of insufficient cold hardiness for exposed locations in zone 6 or colder
• winter burn and injury
• possibly difficult to find
• retained dead foliage can detract

ID Features

• evergreen, spirally-arranged needles persist 4 to 5 years
• conical shape with tufted or plumed foliage
• red-brown shredding bark
• distinct bronze color in cold months

Propagation

• by seed
• by cuttings

Cultivars/Varieties

'Lobbii' - This is a fastigiate/columnar form, growing to 30' tall and much less wide. The foliage is deep green, bronzing in cold weather.

'Vilmoriniana' - A compact form to about 3' tall. Has dense foliage that turns a mottled gold and purple color in the fall. A good rock garden plant. Numerous other dwarf selections exist with slight variations on this dwarf theme.

'Yoshino' - Perhaps the most commonly available form in New England nurseries. The summer foliage is blue-green and it bronzes in winter to a purplish-brown hue. Reports indicate fast growth and pyramidal habit to 30' tall.