Sugi, often known as Japanese cedar, is a thin, pyramidal, evergreen conifer with tiered horizontal branches and tips that are slightly pendulous. A monotypic genus unrelated to the actual cedars is the Japanese cedar. It grows naturally as a single trunk tree up to 150 feet tall with an 8 foot trunk diameter in forested parts of Japan and China. It is the national tree of Japan, where temples and shrines frequently plant it. It grows significantly more slowly when grown in the U.S., often reaching heights of 50 to 60 feet. Green to blue-green, fragrant, awl-shaped needles with sharp points are spirally organized. Touching the foliage feels kind. Cold winters may cause foliage to bronze. The terminals of the shoots sprout spherical fruiting cones.
| Plant Type |
Trees |
| Hardiness Zone |
5-9 |
| Exposure |
Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Winter |
| Height | 25' - 35' (ft), 35' - 45' (ft) |
| Spread | 15' - 25' (ft) |
| Spacing |
12'-22' (ft) |
| Water Needs |
Average |
| Maintenance |
Low |
| Soil Type |
Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil PH |
Acid, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage |
Moist but Well-Drained |
| Characteristics |
Evergreen |
| Tolerance |
Clay Soil, Deer, Dry Soil, Heat |
| Attracts |
Birds |
| Garden Uses |
Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens, Mass Planting, Patio and Containers |
Japanese Radicans Cedar | Cryptomeria japonica 'Radicans' || Sugi, often known as Japanese cedar, is a thin, pyramidal, evergreen conifer with tiered horizontal branches and tips that are slightly pendulous. A monotypic genus unrelated to the actual cedars is the Japanese cedar. It grows naturally as a single trunk tree up to 150 feet tall with an 8 foot trunk diameter in forested parts of Japan and China. It is the national tree of Japan, where temples and shrines frequently plant it. It grows significantly more slowly when grown in the U.S., often reaching heights of 50 to 60 feet. Green to blue-green, fragrant, awl-shaped needles with sharp points are spirally organized. Touching the foliage feels kind. Cold winters may cause foliage to bronze. The terminals of the shoots sprout spherical fruiting cones.
Full Sun, Partial Sun,
Winter,
Average Water Needs, Low Maintenance, Moist but Well-Drained,
Evergreen,
Clay Soil Tolerant, Deer Tolerant, Dry Soil Tolerant, Heat Tolerant,
Attracts Birds, Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens, Mass Planting, Patio and Containers
