Practical
Plants

Thujopsis dolobrata

Hiba

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

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

Uses

Material uses

The bark is used for match cord, for filling (caulking) between boards on boats etc to prevent water leaking[6][8]. Wood - soft, durable, elastic. Used for construction, cabinet work, water pipes, ship building etc[6][8].

Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Japan.
Habitat
In sunny rocky places at elevations of 300 - 1700 metres in the mountains of C. and S. Japan[7][5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown when ripe in the autumn in a cold frame[2]. Stored seed germinates best if given a short cold stratification[2]. It can be sown in a cold frame in late winter. 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. The plants make very little growth in their first year[9]. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. If growing large quantities of plants, the seed can be sown in an outdoor seed bed in mid spring[9]. Grow the plants on for two years and then plant them out into their permanent positions in late autumn or early spring. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, July/August in a shaded frame. Forms roots by the end of September but it should be overwintered in a frame[9]. Cuttings of almost ripe wood.

Cultivation

Requires a moist sheltered site, preferably in or beside woodland[4]. Requires a high humidity but it is virtually unaffected by pH or winter temperatures[4]. A very slow growing plant in Britain[10], seedlings only grow about 3cm a year for the first 6 - 10 years and do not attain 30cm a year even when well established[3]. Unless shaded out by neighbouring trees, this plant retains its lower branches[10]. The sub-species T. dolobrata hondai. Mak. is a tall tree whilst T. dolobrata australis is a shrub or moderately sized tree[1].

References

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

    ↩

  2. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

  5. Flora of Japan www.foj.info

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2

Edit this page