Cryptomeria japonica Araucarioides

The Cryptomeria japonica or 'Araucarioides' Japanese Cedar owes its varietal name to the resemblance of its branches to those of araucarias. Long and slender,devoid of twigs during their first year, covered with short and very green needles, the branches give this conifer a very pleasant exotic look. With a beautiful conical and airy habit in its early years, the tree becomes rounder, branches out, and gains substance with age. Original and luxuriant, it is superb in large flowerbeds or when placed in isolation. This Japanese cedar will develop without difficulty in any well-drained garden soil, rather cool and not excessively chalky.

The Cryptomeria japonica is a very tall conifer belonging to the taxodiaceae family and native to Japan. In its country of origin, this tree is commonly planted around religious temples. It is a species that thrives in mild oceanic climates, both humid throughout the year and mild in winter. In Asia, this forest tree with its sequoia-like appearance can reach heights of up to 60 m (196 ft 11 in), with a trunk diameter of 4 m (13 ft 1 in) covered in red-brown bark that peels off in vertical flakes. In our European latitudes, it can still reach heights of 30 to 40 m (98 ft 5 in to 131 ft 2 in). The foliage is evergreen in winter and consists of curved needles arranged spirally around the twigs. The Japanese cedar has given rise to numerous cultivars selected for their small size, foliage appearance, original habit, resistance to cold, and better tolerance of European soils and average climates.

The ancient 'Araucarioides' cultivar was introduced in Europe from Japan in the 1860s. In Japan, it was named 'Enko' or 'Enko Sugi'. It is a mutant form of Cryptomeria japonica that maintains moderate dimensions and an original architecture throughout its existence. This conifer has a very flexible bushy habit and dense growth when mature. The shrub or small tree, rather fast-growing, will still reach a height of 4 m (13 ft 1 in) at 10 years of age and approximately 8 m (26 ft 2 in) in height with a 4 m (13 ft 1 in) spread after many years. Young specimens have a very light appearance, with their branches consisting mainly of long, slender, devoid of or with very sparse twig shoots. They branch out in the second year from buds located at their tips, so the growth of this conifer becomes thicker  over time. Its wood is red-brown. The foliage is fine, with a beautiful light to dark green colour from summer to winter, which covers numerous slightly trailing branches. This variety is hardy down to -15°C (5 °F), but it requires a sheltered location from cold and dry winds and a non-scorching exposure.

The Cryptomeria japonica Araucarioides undoubtedly deserves to be better known and planted in gardens in not too harsh or dry climates. With its personality and moderate growth, it brings a touch of exoticism to the garden. Place it in the background of flowerbeds or lean it against a perimeter wall. This plant goes well with large stones, geometric lines, and masonry works. It can be compbined with other trailing or spherical dwarf conifers such as Juniperus horizontalis Blue Chip, or columnar conifers of different colours, or planted in isolation to mark the curve of a pathway or a shaded staircase landing. Lastly, the visual qualities of conifers naturally stand out in the design of contemporary gardens.

Uses/Properties:

The wood of the Japanese Cedar is pleasantly fragrant, with a beautiful pink-red colour, lightweight but resiliant and rot-resistant. It is widely used in Japan for all types of construction, both indoors abd out.