Japanese Red Cedar Tree ‘Elegans’ (3L)

Cryptomeria japonica ‘Elegans’ is an evergreen conifer with a captivating ability to change its hue as the seasons shift. Often referred to as the Japanese Red Cedar, its foliage emerges blue/green in spring, transitions to a vibrant green in summer, and adopts shades of burgundy-purple and rusty-red come autumn and winter.

The leaves of ‘Elegans’ are notably soft to touch. Its horizontal branches gracefully droop at the tips, contributing to its striking silhouette. In two decades, ‘Elegans’ can achieve a height of 4-5 metres and a breadth of 1.5 metres. For optimal growth, it prefers moist yet well-draining soil, and can flourish in both sun and partial shade.

Foliage Color Change
One of the most striking features of ‘Elegans’ is its ability to change color across seasons. The foliage is typically bright green in spring and summer, turning a bronze or purplish shade in the fall and winter.

Growth Habit
This cultivar has a more shrubby and somewhat irregular growth habit when young, but it can become more tree-like with age. Given the right conditions and time, it can reach heights of up to 10-15 meters, although many specimens remain smaller, especially if pruned.

Use in Landscaping
Thanks to its unique texture and short-changing foliage, Cryptomeria japonica ‘Elegans’ is a popular choice for gardens and landscapes. It can serve as an interesting specimen tree or be part of a hedge or screen.

Care
Like most Cryptomeria, it prefers well-draining soil and can be grown in full sun to partial shade. Once established, it can be quite drought-tolerant, though it will appreciate regular watering during dry spells, especially when young. It grows to 4m tall and has weak, shallow roots that require a sheltered location

Hardiness
Generally hardy, but its tolerance to extreme cold can vary when young. When mature it is hardy in all of UK. (-20C to -15C)

Pruning
‘Elegans’ can be pruned to maintain a desired shape or size, though it’s not strictly necessary. If you do decide to prune, it’s best to do so in late winter or early spring.

Cryptomeria japonica in general is native to Japan and is an evergreen conifer. The ‘Elegans’ cultivar is just one of many cultivars of this species available.

Ultimate height
4–8 metres

Time to ultimate height
10–20 years

Ultimate spread
1–1.5 metres

🇬🇧 UK Grown.

Supplied in a 3 litre pot.

Please note: Decorative pots shown are for display purposes only. Your tree will be supplied in a standard plastic nursery pot shown in the other pictures.