• Photo of Cryptomeria japonica (Cryptomeria japonicas)

Plant Profile: Cryptomeria japonica

Taxonomy: Cryptomeria japonica

Names

Japanese Cedar, Japanese Cryptomeria

  • Photo of Cryptomeria japonica (Cryptomeria japonicas)

Phonetic Spelling:krip-toh-MER-ee-uh juh-PON-ih-kuh

Genus:Cryptomeria

Species:japonica

Family:Cupressaceae

The Japanese Cedar is a medium-sized evergreen tree known for its elegant growth pattern and ease of cultivation. It typically reaches heights of 50 to 70 feet and spreads 20 to 30 feet wide, exhibiting a conical to pyramidal form. While it thrives in rich, moist, well-drained, and acidic soils, it can adapt to various soil types. This tree flourishes in both full sun and partial shade conditions. Notably, it is resistant to deer damage and has a moderate tolerance for salt. Its reddish, peeling bark adds to its visual appeal.

This tree can be utilized as a standout specimen or for creating privacy screens, and there are shorter cultivars available for those with limited space.

Previously classified under the family Taxodiaceae.

Quick Identification Tips:

In terms of pests, diseases, and other issues, the Japanese Cedar is generally resilient. However, it may occasionally face challenges such as leaf spot, leaf blight, and fungal infections.

Cryptomeria japonica Feature Summary

Cryptomeria japonica Image Gallery

Tags

#evergreen
#full sun tolerant
#blue
#conical
#salt tolerant
#barrier
#cpp
#deer resistant
#screening
#fantz
#exfoliating bark
#partial shade tolerant

Similar Plants

Cryptomeria japonica is often confused with:

Cryptomeria japonica Feature Summary

Attributes
Highly valued wood for building many different things
Central & South Japan and China
This tree is resistant to damage by deer and is slightly salt tolerant.
Fruit
Male (pollen) cones are in clusters near the apex of branches and are oblong and scaly. Female (seed) cones are round, brown, rosette looking on terminal branches singly or in groups.
Brown/Copper
< 1 inch
Flowers
monoecious, with male and female cones
Leaves
3/4 inch evergreen bright or blue-green needles are spirally arranged and awl-shaped. They are 4-angled and curve inward with a slight twist. Needles persist for 4-5 years. May develop bronze tones in the winter. First needles produced each year are shorter than later produced needles.
Green
Blue
Brown/Copper
Needles
Acicular
< 1 inch
Glossy
Soft
Smooth
Showy
Long-lasting
< 1 inch
Bark
Reddish-brown, showy exfoliating bark.
Dark Brown
Red/Burgundy
Stem
Branches are whorled and horizontally spreading to slightly drooping. Branchlets are green the first year. Winter buds are small and non-scaly.
Brown/Copper
Green
Smooth/Hairless
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Screen/Privacy
Specimen
Barrier
Lawn
Naturalized Area

Cryptomeria japonica Attributes

Cryptomeria japonica: Uses (Ethnobotany)

Highly valued wood for building many different things

Cryptomeria japonica: Country Or Region Of Origin

Central & South Japan and China

Cryptomeria japonica: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

This tree is resistant to damage by deer and is slightly salt tolerant.

Cryptomeria japonica: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Cryptomeria japonica Fruit

Cryptomeria japonica: Fruit Description

Male (pollen) cones are in clusters near the apex of branches and are oblong and scaly. Female (seed) cones are round, brown, rosette looking on terminal branches singly or in groups.

Cryptomeria japonica: Fruit Color

grass
Brown/Copper

Cryptomeria japonica: Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Cryptomeria japonica: Fruit Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Cryptomeria japonica Flowers

Cryptomeria japonica: Flower Description

monoecious, with male and female cones

Cryptomeria japonica Leaves

Cryptomeria japonica: Leaf Description

3/4 inch evergreen bright or blue-green needles are spirally arranged and awl-shaped. They are 4-angled and curve inward with a slight twist. Needles persist for 4-5 years. May develop bronze tones in the winter. First needles produced each year are shorter than later produced needles.

Cryptomeria japonica: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Cryptomeria japonica: Leaf Color

spa
Blue
spa
Brown/Copper
spa
Green

Cryptomeria japonica: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Brown/Copper

Cryptomeria japonica: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Cryptomeria japonica: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Cryptomeria japonica: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Cryptomeria japonica: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Cryptomeria japonica: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Cryptomeria japonica: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Cryptomeria japonica: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Cryptomeria japonica: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Cryptomeria japonica: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Cryptomeria japonica Bark

Cryptomeria japonica: Bark Description

Reddish-brown, showy exfoliating bark.

Cryptomeria japonica: Bark Color

grass
Dark Brown
grass
Red/Burgundy

Cryptomeria japonica: Surface/Attachment

Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy

Cryptomeria japonica Stem

Cryptomeria japonica: Stem Description

Branches are whorled and horizontally spreading to slightly drooping. Branchlets are green the first year. Winter buds are small and non-scaly.

Cryptomeria japonica: Stem Color

grass
Brown/Copper
grass
Green

Cryptomeria japonica: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Cryptomeria japonica: Stem Buds

Hairy
Hairy tips
Scaly
Smooth/Hairless

Cryptomeria japonica Whole Plant Traits

Cryptomeria japonica: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Cryptomeria japonica: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Cryptomeria japonica: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Cryptomeria japonica: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Cryptomeria japonica: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Cryptomeria japonica: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Cryptomeria japonica Cultural Conditions

Cryptomeria japonica: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Cryptomeria japonica: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Cryptomeria japonica: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Cryptomeria japonica: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Cryptomeria japonica: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Cryptomeria japonica: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Cryptomeria japonica: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Cryptomeria japonica Landscape

Cryptomeria japonica: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Cryptomeria japonica: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Cryptomeria japonica: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland