Taiwania cryptomerioides

Plant type

tree, conifer

size

H: 50'-100'
W: 20'-40'

planting zones

8a-11

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Taiwania cryptomerioides plant details

Taiwania cryptomerioides is an evergreen conifer tree with blue and green foliage. Grows well with sun and even moisture water. A good option if you're seeking something verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Taiwania cryptomerioides

Plant type: conifer tree
Plant family: cupressaceae
Foliage: evergreen blue and green
Mature size: 20 FT - 40 FT - wide, 50 FT - 100 FT - tall

GROWING CONDITIONS for Taiwania cryptomerioides

USDA Zones: 8a - 11
Sun exposure: sun
Watering frequency: even moisture
Resistant to: verticillium wilt

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Taiwania is a rare member of the cypress family, and perhaps the largest tree native to Asia. It is currently a vulnerable native once prized for its light, durable wood that was used for building temples, furniture, and coffins. They have lovely conical crowns and blue-green needles on somewhat drooping branches, which cause them to resemble weeping. These trees can reach well over 100 feet tall cultivated, but wild in the forests of Asia they may grow taller than 200 feet.

By: Forestfarm

This species is related to the California Coast Redwood, but native to Asia and with a very different overall appearance. Like the Coast Redwood, the heart wood is very rot resistant and in its native range of China and Taiwan it has been subject to overharvest to the point where there are very few natural stands left. The wood is often used for making coffins, which is the origin for the common name 'Coffin Tree.' Taiwania features blue-green leaves that tend to be prickly when young, but as the trees mature they develop softer scaled foliage.

Coffin Trees are semi-tropical and are only reliably hardy down to zone 8, however there is a similar species from Japan which is hardy to zone 5, the Japanese Red Cedar. The species of the Coffin Tree 'cryptomerioides' is named after the genus of the Japanese Red Cedar 'Cryptomeria' since the Coffin Tree looks and grows so much like the Japanese Red Cedar.