About
This compact, bushy evergreen conifer reaches a height of up to 2 meters. It features spreading branches adorned with long, soft blue-green needles in the spring. As the seasons progress, the foliage shifts to a rich green in summer, eventually transforming to deep purple or red during the winter months.
About the genus
Cryptomeria are substantial evergreen trees characterized by their reddish-brown bark and thick foliage made up of short, awl-shaped leaves that spiral around the branchlets. The cones produced by these trees are round in shape.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, South-facing, North-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H6
Plant details
- Plant type
- Conifers
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Spread
- 1-1.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 20-50 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Architectural, Cottage and informal garden, Rock garden
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grows in any moist but well-drained soil in a sheltered position. See conifer cultivation for further advice
- Pruning
- No pruning required but is one of few conifers that is suitable for coppicing
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed or semi-hardwood cuttings
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to phytophthora root rot and honey fungus (rarely)