Leaf
S. Rae, Wikimedia · CC BY 2.0
Japanese cedar
Cryptomeria japonica (Thunb. ex L.f.) D.Don
Also known as: Sugi, Japanese red-cedar
Family: Cupressaceae
20 to 35 m tall
Planted singly or as a hedge in parks and gardens for its dense foliage
Flowering: February – March
Full sun
Part shade
Hardy to about -18°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
The national tree of Japan, where it is called sugi, it forms the famous centuries-old avenues lining certain Shinto shrines.
🍃 Leaves
Evergreen, short, curved needles, arranged spirally all around the shoot, bronzing in winter in some cultivars
🌸 Flowers
Numerous small yellowish male cones at the tips of the shoots
🍎 Fruits
Small, round, spiky cones, light brown
🪵 Bark
Reddish-brown, fibrous, peeling in long strips
🗺️ Distribution
Native to Japan and China, national tree of Japan
✂️ Horticultural uses
Planted as a specimen for its dense evergreen foliage, or as dwarf cultivars for rock gardens and Japanese gardens
🌱 Known cultivars
'Cristata'
The cultivar 'Cristata' is distinguished by its flattened, crested shoot tips, shaped like a cockscomb, a feature entirely absent from the typical species with its classic pyramidal habit.
🌿 Other Cupressaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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