Practical
Plants

Cryptomeria japonica

Japanese Cedar

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Cryptomeria genus in the family Taxodiaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
20 m
Spread
8 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An oil and/or a resin from the plant is depurative and also used in the treatment of gonorrhoea[7].

Product or use
Depurative
Product or use
VD

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves are very aromatic and are used as incense sticks[10][13][9]. A fairly wind-tolerant tree, it can be used in shelterbelt plantings[6]. Wood - light, fragrant, fine grained[10][13]. The wood is strongly rot resistant, easily worked, and is used for buildings, bridges, ships, lamp posts, furniture, utensils, and paper manufacture[1][10][13][8]. The wood can be used as a substitute for Deal[3]. Old wood that has been buried in the soil turns a dark green and is then much esteemed[10][13].

Product or use
Incense
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Windbreak

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan.
Habitat
Mountains and hills in areas of higher rainfall in S. and C. Japan[12][6]. Rarely spontaneous[12]. Forests on deep, well-drained soils subject to warm, moist conditions, 1100 - 2500 metres[8].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerances
high wind
Wind
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow early spring in a cold frame. The seed germinates better if given a short cold stratification for 2 - 3 weeks at 4°c and is then placed in a warm position[4]. Germination usually takes place within 3 - 9 weeks at 15°c[4]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. An alternative is to plant out the young trees into an outdoor nursery bed when they are about 8cm tall and grow them on for a couple of years before planting them into their permanent positions in late autumn or early spring[4]. Cuttings in the autumn in a sandy soil in a cold frame.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a deep rich moist alluvial soil and a sheltered position in full sun[1][2][4]. Tolerates very acid to somewhat alkaline soils, but becomes chlorotic on shallow soils over chalk[6]. Plants are fairly wind-tolerant[6]. A very ornamental tree[1], it has been widely cultivated as a forestry tree for several centuries in Japan and there are many strains each adapted to the various local conditions[2]. Many forms, almost all of them dwarf, have also been selected for their ornamental value[5][6]. A fast-growing tree on deep, well-drained soils in montane areas with a warm, moist climate, but intolerant of poor soils and cold, drier climates[8]. Occasionally planted for timber in Europe[11], trees do not generally do as well as could be expected in Britain, the best specimens are to be found in the west, especially in the south-west[2]. Trees can grow quite fast in the western part of the country with annual increases of 1 metre or more[5]. New growth takes place from early June to August[5]. Growth decreases rapidly with age, virtually ceasing when the tree reaches 25 metres[5]. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[6]. Unlike most conifers, this species can be coppiced[14].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Gamble. J. S. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1972-00-00

    ↩

  4. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  5. Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-11-710012-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  7. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩

  8. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩1↩2↩3

  9. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6

    ↩

  10. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  11. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  12. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  13. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  14. Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7470-2801-X

    ↩

Edit this page