Cryptomeria japonica (Japanese Cedar) is a medium-sized tree that is native to Japan and southern China. It is widely grown as an ornamental or feature tree in cold and temperate climates. In its native Japan, this species is a popular bonsai specimen and indoors it gives off a pleasant woody, scent. They take some effort to germinate but once sprouted the tree grows quickly in its early years.
Suitable for Cold, Temperate and Sub-Tropical climates.
For a conifer, it has leaves soft to the touch while its reddish bark is quite attractive. The other common name is the Sugi which is what they call it in Japan, where it is their national tree.
Growth
Cryptomeria japonica is an evergreen, feature tree that can grow to heights of up to 20 metres (60 feet). The trunk diameter of a Japanese Cedar can exceed 4 m (13 ft). Leaves are arranged spirally and are similar to a pine but much softer. Like a pine they produce seed cones but are much smaller (1-2 cm).
Japanese Cedars enjoy cool, moist climates and in the United States have been grown successfully in Seattle, Washington down to Houston, Texas. The Aussie translation would be the coldest place in Tasmania to as far north as perhaps Brisbane.
Getting Cryptomeria japonica seeds to germinate can be a patient process. The seeds have a hard shell and in the wild sometimes require multiple winters to sprout. Prior to sowing a treatment called stratification that includes 10-12 weeks in the refrigerator is recommended to achieve a higher strike rate. The tricky bit is timing. After the 10-12 weeks, it can take another 3-6 weeks to germinate. It may take a further 4-6 weeks thereafter to have a seedling big enough to transplant after the last frost. In Melbourne, twenty weeks is a solid guess and by mid-September frost is rare. So starting the stratification off around the middle of April is probably a fair guide for Melbourne. For more information read our germination instructions in the tab.
FAMILY:
Cupressaceae
CLIMATE:
Cold – Temperate
TEMPERATURE RANGE:
-15 to 25°C / -5 to 77°F
SOIL TYPE:
Soil must be well draining.
LOCATION:
Full Sun – Part Shade
HEIGHT:
Up to 20 metres (60 feet)
WIDTH:
Up to 8 metres (25 feet)
pH:
5.0-7.0
GROWTH TYPE:
Evergreen.
WATER REQUIREMENTS:
Medium
POLLINATION:
Wind.
MATURITY:
15-20 years
GERMINATION RATES:
55-85% dependent on length of cold stratification period.
GERMINATION TIME:
Cold stratification for 10-12 weeks, post sowing germination from 3-6 weeks
SEEDS PER GRAM:
Approximately 300
MEDICINAL QUALITIES:
No
WEED POTENTIAL:
No
FACTS ABOUT CRYPTOMERIA JAPONICA (Japanese Cedar)
Japanese Cedars are known as Sugi Trees in their native Japan and is the country’s national tree.
Genus name comes from the Greek krypto meaning to hide and meris meaning a part in reference to the flower parts being hidden.
Japanese Cedars found in the Tianmu Mountain region in China are estimated to be around 1000 years old.
