Cryptomeria japonica or Japanese Cryptomeria is a wonderful evergreen tree that can be planted as a screen or specimen plant. Two Cryptomeria are planted at the Wilson County Arboretum and Botanical Gardens at 1806 S. Goldsboro Street and they are January's Plant of the Month.

Cryptomeria have spirally arranged bright green to bluish green evergreen branches which shed every 4-5 years. (All evergreen lose some foliage typically in the winter months, IE. Magnolias, Hollies, etc.) The stems are spreading and drooping giving a very graceful habit.

Cryptomeria (the species) grows from Zones 5 to 8 and can reach 50 feet high and 20 feet wide in 40 years. They are considered a good alternative to Leyland Cypress for a privacy hedge. The tree is pyramidal in shape and has a moderate growth rate.

This tree has many benefits over Leyland Cypress. First it does not succumb to the canker disease which plaques Leyland's and does not seem to attract as many bagworms.

Also Cryptomeria has beautiful reddish brown peeling bark which comes off in long strips.

Cryptomeria is easy to grow and prefers a rich and deep, light, permeable, acid soil with abundant moisture. Grows best in an open, sunny location with shelter from high winds. It will tolerate light shade.

Cryptomeria can have leaf blight or spot. Branch dieback is common. Dieback has not been associated with a disease but has been touted as the nature of the tree. Pathologists are still researching this. There may be some tip dieback associated with a disease.

'Yoshino' is a commonly found cultivar. Rich bright blue-green foliage. Develops in a handsome shape without much pruning, 30-40 feet in height.

Some of the top ten cultivars of Cryptomeria include 'Ben Franklin' a deep green plant which is salt tolerant. Retains excellent green color in winter. Selected by a North Carolina grower. 'Black Dragon' is compact with extremely dark green foliage. Irregular pyramidal shape. 'Elegan Aurea' has yellow needles in summer that turn green in the winter. 'Globosa Nana' is a dense dome-shaped form which grows 2-3 feet high and 2-3 feet wide in 10-15 years. Bluish green in summer and rusty red in winter. "Sekkan-sugi' is a vigorous grower with yellow-green new growth that fades to green in the heat of the summer. Pyramidal habit that grows 20 feet in ten years.

Seed germination is quite poor and cutting can take several months to root, so it is best to buy Cryptomeria from a nursery.

This conifer should be grown more. Anyone who has traveled to the National Arboretum may remember the grove of Cryptomeria by the entrance to the bonsai house. In Japan, Cryptomeria is quite popular and used as a timber tree.

The Wilson County Arboretum and Botanical Garden, at 1806 S. Goldsboro Street has experienced some growing pains. With Goldsboro Street being widen we have lost our bird garden. We hope to replant come spring. The Garden is open from dawn until dusk. Come visit us anytime of year, there is always something happening in the garden!

Date Created: 7/11/03.