Cryptomeria japonica 'Yoshino': 'Yoshino' Japanese-Cedar

Introduction

This striking evergreen forms a loose, open, pyramidal shape of somewhat pendulous branches clothed with dense, short, light green to blue/green, fragrant needles. Trees reach 30 to 40 feet in height by 15 to 20 feet in width, and develop a somewhat oval canopy with age. The trunk remains straight with relatively small-diameter lateral branches. Long branches are spaced just far enough apart to allow the handsome, reddish-brown, peeling bark to be easily seen when standing next to the tree. The short needles may take on a slight bronze hue in winter but will quickly return to green in springtime. The foliage of this cultivar discolors in winter far less than the species.

General Information

Scientific name: Cryptomeria japonica

Pronunciation: krip-toe-MEER-ee-uh juh-PAWN-ih-kuh

Common name(s): 'Yoshino' Japanese cedar

Family: Taxodiaceae

USDA hardiness zones: 6A through 8B (Fig. 2)

Origin: not native to North America

Invasive potential: little invasive potential

Uses: screen; specimen; parking lot island < 100 sq ft; parking lot island 100–200 sq ft; parking lot island > 200 sq ft; tree lawn 3–4 feet wide; tree lawn 4–6 feet wide; tree lawn > 6 ft wide; urban tolerant; highway median; bonsai

Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the tree

Description

Height: 30 to 40 feet

Spread: 15 to 20 feet

Crown uniformity: symmetrical

Crown shape: pyramidal

Crown density: dense

Growth rate: slow

Texture: fine

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: spiral (Fig. 3)

Leaf type: simple

Leaf margin: entire

Leaf shape: awl-like

Leaf venation: none, or difficult to see

Leaf type and persistence: evergreen

Leaf blade length: less than 2 inches

Leaf color: green

Fall color: copper

Fall characteristic: not showy

Flower

Flower color: unknown

Flower characteristics: not showy

Fruit

Fruit shape: round

Fruit length: .5 to 1 inch

Fruit covering: dry or hard

Fruit color: brown

Fruit characteristics: does not attract wildlife; not showy; fruit/leaves not a litter problem

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: branches droop; very showy; typically one trunk; thorns

Pruning requirement: little required

Breakage: resistant

Current year twig color: green

Current year twig thickness: medium

Wood specific gravity: unknown

Culture

Light requirement: full sun, partial sun, or partial shade

Soil tolerances: clay; sand; loam; acidic; well-drained

Drought tolerance: moderate

Aerosol salt tolerance: unknown

Other

Roots: not a problem

Winter interest: no

Outstanding tree: yes

Ozone sensitivity: unknown

Verticillium wilt susceptibility: resistant

Pest resistance: resistant to pests/diseases

Use and Management

'Yoshino' Japanese cedar makes a dramatic landscape element for an open lawn or can be used as an attractive street tree, particularly for narrow spaces. For street tree use, remove lower branches at an early age to keep the pruning scars as small as possible. It may grow too large for most residential landscapes but makes a nice specimen or 'softening' tree for a large building.

'Yoshino' Japanese cedar should be grown in full sun, sheltered from harsh winds, on well-drained, moist, acid soil. Locate it so air circulation around the tree is good, particularly during the summer, to help prevent leaf blight. It thrives best with some afternoon shade in the southern part of its range. Although plants may grow 2- to 4-feet per year when young, they will rarely require pruning if properly located in the landscape as they naturally grow into a beautiful pyramidal shape. 'Yoshino' Japanese cedar and the species are tolerant of compacted soil and probably perform well in parking lots and other tough urban sites, with some irrigation in drought.

Propagation is by cuttings from mature wood.

Pests and Diseases

No pests or diseases are of major concern but occasionally bothered by leaf blight and leaf spot, but probably less so than the species. Mites can infest the foliage.