Cryptomeria japonica Vilmorin Gold

Cryptomeria japonica 'Vilmorin Gold' is a dwarf form of Japanese Cedar. Growing very slowly, this small conifer forms a dense, somewhat irregular ball, adorned with bright golden young shoots that become cream-coloured in summer. The autumn foliage displays bronze-pink hues, while the adult foliage is a beautiful, light, vivid green. Low maintenance and hardy, it allows for unexpected and colourful combinations in rock gardens and alpine gardens. It thrives in full sun, in moist but well-drained ordinary soil that is not too dry.

Cryptomeria japonica is a large conifer from the Cupressaceae (formerly Taxodiaceae) family, native to Japan. In its country of origin, this tree is commonly planted around religious temples. It thrives in a mild oceanic climate, both humid all year round and mild in winter. In Asia, this forest tree with a sequoia-like appearance can reach heights of up to 60m (197ft, with a trunk diameter of 4m (13ft) covered in a red-brown bark that peels off in vertical strips. In our latitudes, it still reaches heights of 30 to 40m (99ft to 131ft). The evergreen foliage of this conifer is composed of spirally arranged needles on the branchlets. Japanese Cedar has given rise to numerous cultivars selected for their small size, foliage appearance, cold resistance, and better tolerance to our soils and average climates.

'Vilmorin Gold' is a mutation of the famous British cultivar 'Vilmoriniana'. As its name suggests, this small conifer is adorned with golden young shoots in spring. Growing very slowly, it will reach 60cm (24in) in all directions by the age of 10 years and hardly more than 1.5m (5ft) after many years. Its overall habit is globular, with dense vegetation composed of short branches. The adult foliage, also very dense, consists of short, curved needles of a beautiful, light, and vivid green. The young shoots change from golden yellow to cream-white before turning bronze-pink to reddish under the effect of cold. This variety is hardy down to -20°C (-4°F).

Cryptomeria japonica 'Vilmorin Gold' deserves more attention. With its easy cultivation, personality, and very small size, it is a perfect plant for rock gardens, flower beds, and terraces. This plant pairs well with large stones, geometric lines, and masonry structures. It can be planted with other shrubs for rock gardens (Abelia prostrata, Berberis darwinii or B. thunbergii atropurpurea 'Nana', and heathers), dwarf conifers with globular, columnar, or a prostrate habit (Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip') in different colours. The architectural qualities of conifers naturally impose themselves in the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures over the fleeting beauty of flowers. These plants, with their reassuring permanence, provide lasting structure to a flower bed. They also mark pathways, and border terraces, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood or holly. The key is to play with volumes and colours.