About
Amentotaxus argotaenia is a slow-growing conifer that typically reaches heights of approximately 8 meters. Its branches ascend gracefully, and the young bark starts off reddish before transitioning to a grey-brown hue. The leaves are linear, measuring up to 10 cm in length, and exhibit a dark green, leathery texture, with distinctive silvery white bands on their undersides. Pollen cones, which can grow to about 6 cm, appear in clusters of 1 to 3 at the branch tips, while the seed cones are shorter and rounder, reaching around 2.5 cm. The seeds are small and encased in a long red aril, which is a fleshy appendage that adds visual interest.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H3
Plant details
- Plant type
- Conifers, Trees
- Habit
- Columnar upright, Spreading branched
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 4-8 metres
- Spread
- 4-8 metres
- Time to full height
- 20-50 years
- Suggested uses
- Architectural
- Native to
- Far East
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Thrives in rocky, moist but well-drained soils, in part or full shade. In regions where temperatures don't fall below -5°C, this species is well suited to understory planting in moist woodland or along damp stream banks
- Pruning
- Minimal pruning required, see pruning group 1
- Propagation
- Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings or by sowing seed as soon as it is ripe, outdoors. For more advice see our information on how to propagate from seed (tree/shrub)
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free, though seeds may be eaten by rodents
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to Phytophthora root rot