Description

Leaves: Small; scale-like; attached in alternating pairs flattened along and clasping twig; 1/12" to 1/8" long; spreading at the tips; dark green above with whitish markings underneath, but culivars can be bright yellow; evergreen; persist 2 to 3 years; aromatic when crushed.

Twigs/buds: Twigs slender; covered by foliage and horizontally flattened depending on cultivar. Buds very small; indistinct; not useful for identification purposes.

Flowers/fruit: Monoecious. Fruit a leathery cone; 1/4" diameter; round; yellowish-green; 6 to 8 shield-shaped scales with a small bump on each one; matures in one year.

Bark: Fibrous; reddish-brown; shredding; distinctive.

Wood: Important in Japan; wood light colored; very decay-resistant; used for construction and caskets.

General: Native to Japan; not Utah.  Not a true cedar or cypress.  Prefers moist sites, but does fine on a wide variety of soils, but avoid extreme heat. Moderately shade tolerant.

Landscape Use: A medium- to large-sized tree (40' to 70' tall and 15' to 20' wide), sometimes with a weeping habit. Many ornamental cultivars with a variety of colors and forms.  Not common in Utah, but I have a shrub form in my yard in Logan, and also have seen them on the UofU campus. No notable insect and disease problems.  Does well on a variety of sites.  Zones 4-8.

Cultivars: 'Boulevard', 'Filifera', 'Filifera Aurea', 'Plumosa', 'Plumosa Aurea', 'Squarrosa', 'Squarrosa Minima'.

Characteristics