Characteristics:
Common name: Japanese Cedar, Sugi
Family: Taxodiacea
Origin: Japan
Mature height: 15 meters
Hardiness: -15 ° C
Exposure: sunny, partial shade
Plant type: tree
Vegetation: perennial
Foliage: persistent
Flowering: February
Flower color: brown, orange-reddish
Soil type: rich in humus, deep, draining
Watering: normal
Use: isolated, clump, container, bonsai
Diseases and pests: red spiders
Toxicity: –
Seed conservation: 2 years in a dry place protected from light at 3/4 ° C (refrigerator)
Description:
Cryptomeria, the only member of the cryptomeria genus, is a large tree with a conical habit and evergreen foliage. It can reach a height of 70 meters for a trunk of 4 meters in diameter in its natural environment. Sacred tree in Japan, it is very present in Japanese culture and is cultivated near temples.
Its bark is fibrous, red-brown, and peels in vertical bands. These leaves are arranged in a spiral like thorns (0.5 to 1cm long), they resemble those of the giant sequoia from which it can be differentiated by the longer leaves and smaller cones a harder bark (thick, soft and spongy for redwood).
The wood is fragrant, of a pink-red color, light but strong, rot-proof and resistant to decomposition. It is often used in Japan for all types of construction as well as in interior panels.
Cryptomeria forms a perfect composition by cultivating it with azaleas and bamboo or by highlighting it on a heather carpet for example.
Magnificent tree, it supports pruning perfectly, and is one of the most cultivated conifers by bonsai enthusiasts. In pots, especially as a Christmas tree or bonsai, it needs a lot of humidity and turns yellow if it is lacking or if it is placed in full sun. Very resistant to pollution, it requires little care.
