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Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans'

Also Known As

Plume Cedar
Plumose Japanese Cedar

Plant type

tree, conifer

size

H: 10'-30'
W: 5'-10'

planting zones

6a-9b

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Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans' plant details

Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans' is a slow-growing evergreen conifer tree with blue, green and purple foliage. Grows well with sun and even moisture water. Does well in acidic, gritty and rich soil. A good option if you're seeking something verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans'

Plant type: conifer tree
Plant family: cupressaceae
Foliage: evergreen blue, green and purple
Mature size: 5 FT - 10 FT - wide, 10 FT - 30 FT - tall
Uses: pyramidal, winter interest

GROWING CONDITIONS for Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans'

USDA Zones: 6a - 9b
Sun exposure: sun
Watering frequency: even moisture
Resistant to: verticillium wilt
Soil needs: acidic, gritty and rich

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

The soft juvenile foliage is retained on this variety giving it a bushy appearance; it forms a large shrub, 10-15' (up to 30'?) high and with blue-green ?juvenile? foliage, turning bronzy in winter. S-PSh/M

By: Forestfarm

Elegans' is a fantastic cultivar of an already amazing tree with soft feathery foliage. Typically Japanese Cryptomeria have scaled foliage like other cypress species, which are often referred to as 'cedars' because of the aromatic wood. Branches grow upright at first but then tend to weep around the edges and form dense curtains of soft textured foliage which is often lined with silver. The foliage grows very dense and makes for a solid screen when planted in rows, but this plant is best appreciated where its form can be appreciated as a central landscape specimen.

Japanese Plume Cedar is often found in Japanese Gardens planted near Japanese Maples as the two species compliment each other very well with their finely detailed foliage. It is one of the best choices when growing conifers in containers and is frequently used for bonsai because of its thick trunk and branches and for how easily it can be shaped.

This variety has been around for a long time and was actually imported from Japan in the 1800's. The regular species is the national tree of Japan and is prized there because of its rot resistant wood, medium to fast growth rate, and large eventual size. It is in the redwood group of Cypress family and is similar to the endangered Coffin Tree from Taiwan. In fact, seedlings of the two species look almost identical.

We often offer a size down from a one gallon container when the trees are between eight and fifteen inches tall as this is preferred for those seeking to make extremely small bonsai specimens (which this plant is often used for). One or even two gallons will work for regular sized bonsai trees.

Propagating Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans'

Cuttings from young wood root easily. We propagate ours by taking cuttings in mid summer and misting them, but they also work well when taken in mid-Fall and kept in high humidity with medium light levels. Cuttings are best taken from tips which grew during the past season in 5-7 inch long pieces. Remove the needles from the bottom inch or two, pulling them off causes relatively large wounds. After pulling off the needles dip them into rooting hormone - this will be absorbed into the tissue in the wounds and will be the location where roots form. Softwood cuttings in summer usually root by late fall, and fall cuttings usually root by mid summer.

Caring for Cryptomeria japonica

Very little pruning or shaping is required, but if multiple trunks start to form cut those out to ensure a well balanced tree leaving the strongest or straightest. Fertilize in the spring with a slow release pellet, we like to use Osmocote Plus 20-10-10. You can double the growth rate by providing well drained soil, mix a significant amount of shredded pine/fir bark into the soil for best results. In fact, we had cuttings which rooted out of their plug containers into a pile of pure shredded pine bark and they grew like crazy! Avoid over watering Cryptomeria; although they can handle moist conditions they do best when the soil is allowed to dry out a little bit between watering. Partly this is because the trees will develop stronger root structures and will therefore do better over time.