Japanese Red Cedar Tree 60/80cm (Cell)

Japanese Red Cedar – Cryptomeria japonica is a handsome evergreen conifer grown for its soft, feathery foliage and richly textured, fibrous bark. Supplied here at 60/80cm in a P9 pot, this young tree is an economical way to establish a specimen that will develop into a broad, conical evergreen with age. The needles are short, awl-shaped and curved inwards along the shoots, giving the branches a plumed, almost woolly appearance. In spring and summer the colour is a fresh mid-green, deepening through the season, and in colder weather many plants take on bronze or russet tints before returning to green as temperatures rise.

As the tree matures, the trunk becomes clothed in reddish-brown bark that peels away in long vertical strips, a feature best appreciated when lower branches are gradually lifted. Small rounded cones, around 1.5 to 2cm across, are carried towards the shoot tips and ripen from green to brown. The national tree of Japan, it has long been planted around temples and shrines, and in gardens it works equally well as a specimen on a lawn, as part of a mixed evergreen shelter belt, or as an informal screen where year-round cover is needed.

Young plants in P9 pots establish quickly once planted out, and their fine root systems knit readily into prepared ground. Growth is steady rather than rapid in the early years, then picks up noticeably once the root system is well settled.

Care Guide

Plant in a sheltered position in sun or light shade, avoiding exposed sites where cold, drying winds can scorch the foliage. Japanese Red Cedar prefers a deep, moist but well-drained soil that is slightly acidic to neutral, though it tolerates mildly alkaline conditions where the ground does not dry out. Thin chalky soils and waterlogged clay are both best avoided.

Autumn or early spring planting suits the British climate well, giving roots time to settle before summer. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot, loosen the base, and incorporate well-rotted organic matter. Plant at the same depth as the pot, firm gently and water thoroughly. A 5 to 7cm mulch of bark or leaf mould applied around the base, kept clear of the trunk, will conserve moisture and suppress weeds.

Water regularly through the first two or three growing seasons, especially during dry spells from May to September, as young plants are more vulnerable to drought than established ones. A balanced slow-release fertiliser applied in spring supports strong growth on poorer soils.

Pruning is rarely necessary. Remove dead, damaged or crossing shoots in late spring, and trim lightly if growing as a screen. Avoid cutting back into old bare wood, as conifers seldom regenerate from it. Stake young trees on windy sites for the first couple of years and check ties annually. The species is generally trouble-free, though watch for honey fungus in gardens with a history of the problem.

Ultimate height
Higher than 12 metres

Time to ultimate height
20–50 years

Ultimate spread
4–8 metres