Cryptomeria japonica Seeds | Japanese Cedar
LATIN NAME: Cryptomeria japonica
COMMON NAME: Japanese Cedar, Sugi, Japanese Redwood
Plant Profile
Cryptomeria japonica, commonly known as Japanese Cedar, is a tall, evergreen conifer in the cypress family, native to Japan,the japanese cedar can grow up to 25 meters in height and a spread of around 6 meters. The Japanese cedar, known in Japan as sugi, is a noble and beloved tree that has stood at shrines and in forests of country for a thousand years. It grows as a tall, evergreen conifer, reaching up to fifty metres, with a straight trunk and a conical crown of soft, feathery, blue-green foliage that turns a bronze colour in winter, and small, rounded cones. In good conditions it grows to around Fifty metres. Bees find the flowers quickly, and that pollinator traffic is a garden benefit in its own right. Each of these traits is modest on its own; together they make a garden-worthy plant.
Science & Biotechnology
Cryptomeria japonica sits in the cypress family, a group that keeps botanists, horticulturists and plant breeders busy with questions of classification, adaptation and ornamental potential. The Japanese cedar has a genuine and distinguished place in both forestry and botanical research. Continuing work by breeders and collectors keeps good seed of this species moving through the trade.
Uses & Benefits
Japanese Cedar brings genuine presence to the garden and earns its keep across the growing season. Ecologically, the Japanese cedar is a keystone of the Japanese landscape. Its dense, evergreen crown gives shelter for birds, its cones feed small mammals, and it has been a noble presence at shrines and forests of Japan for a thousand years. For a grower, the Japanese cedar is a valuable and noble tree, and for a gardener it brings soft, feathery evergreen beauty. Once it has settled, the workload drops to almost nothing.
Japanese cedar gives fragrant, durable timber, and its pollen is famously allergenic; the leaf oil has folk use in soothing baths.
Growing from Seed
Sow fresh seed of Japanese Cedar under ordinary good conditions. A simple routine works well: sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly in a loose, well-drained seed compost, maintain even moisture, and provide bright light. Once the seedlings have made true leaves, pot them on individually and plant out when they are sturdy and conditions are right.
Our Take
Once established, Japanese Cedar, Sugi, Japanese Redwood largely looks after itself. In a sunny, freely drained position it needs little looking after.
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