Practical
Plants

Cunninghamia lanceolata

Chinese Fir

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

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
15 m
Spread
6 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.

Antidote, carminative. A decoction of the wood is used in the treatment of varnish poisoning (from species of Rhus), chronic ulcers, hernia etc[5][8]. An essential oil from the plant is used to treat bruises, pain, rheumatism and wounds[8]. The ash of the bark is used to treat burns, scalds and wounds[8]. A decoction of the cone is used in the treatment of coughs[8].

Product or use
Antidote
Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Miscellany
Product or use
Skin

Material uses

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

Wood - light, fragrant, durable but rots easily if it is continually wet, easily worked, resists insects damage. Used in construction, ship building etc wherever great strength is required[1][11][12][5]. The wood is strongly resistant to rot, is not eaten by termites, and is easily worked. It is used in constructing buildings, bridges, ships, and lamp posts, in furniture manufacture, and for wood fiber[10]. A charcoal can be made from the wood[5].

Product or use
Charcoal
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy, Secondary canopy

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China.
Habitat
Mixed broad-leaved forests, rocky hillsides and roadsides, 200 - 2800 metres in most temperate areas of China[10]. Often forming small, pure stands on red sandstone soils[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - sow late winter in a greenhouse[13]. If the seed does not germinate within 8 weeks then 3 weeks cold stratification may speed up the process[4]. Germination usually takes place in 1 - 6 months at 18°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. Cuttings of half ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, July/August in a frame[13]. Division of suckers[10].

Cultivation

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

Requires a rich warm soil and a sheltered sunny position[1][4]. Dislikes soil with free lime otherwise the pH is unimportant[7]. This species is only hardy in the milder areas of Britain according to one report[1] whilst another says that it can tolerate temperatures down to about -25°c[7]. This figure could be a misprint for -15°c since the report also says that it is a zone 7 plant[K]. There are trees 25 metres tall in Cornwall and 18 metres tall in Kent[3][6]. Young trees can make quite rapid growth in height, up to 60cm a year once they have attained more than 1 metre in height[6]. Before reaching the height of 1 metre, however, they are liable to be killed by frost[6]. This is the main re-afforestation tree in China[11][12]. The most important fast-growing timber tree of the warm regions south of the Chang Jiang valley of China[10]. Unlike most conifers, this species can be coppiced[1]. The bruised foliage emits a delicious resinous aroma[9]. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[7].

References

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  2. Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae.

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

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  9. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

  13. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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