Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica 'Spiralis') is a striking evergreen conifer native to the forested regions of Japan and China, where it stands as the national tree and graces temple grounds across the country. This slender, pyramidal shrub grows 30 to 40 feet tall with a mature width of 15 to 30 feet, featuring distinctive tiered horizontal branching with slightly pendulous tips that create an elegant, layered silhouette. Hardy in zones 5 to 8, it thrives in full sun and moderate moisture, requiring minimal maintenance once established. Despite its common name, Japanese cedar is unrelated to true cedars, belonging instead to its own monotypic genus within the Cupressaceae family. Its evergreen foliage and architectural form make it a long-lived focal point in the landscape.
Full Sun
Moderate
5-8
480in H x 360in W
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High
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The tiered horizontal branching with softly drooping branch tips gives Japanese Cedar an almost sculptural quality that shifts and changes with the seasons and light. Unlike many conifers, it tolerates clay soil and remains completely deer resistant, making it reliable even in challenging garden conditions. It demands little ongoing care once sited properly, thriving in acidic, well-draining soil with consistent moisture and protection from drying winter winds. The tight, pyramidal form requires no aggressive pruning to maintain its naturally graceful architecture.
Japanese Cedar functions primarily as an ornamental evergreen shrub, valued for its architectural form as a focal point, screening plant, or specimen tree in mixed borders. Its narrow pyramidal shape suits it to formal landscapes, Japanese-inspired gardens, and contemporary designs where its tiered branching can be fully appreciated. The dense foliage and year-round presence make it effective for windbreaks and privacy screening in cooler climates.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Japanese Cedar naturally forms a graceful pyramidal shape with tiered branching and requires minimal pruning. Remove any dead or damaged branches as they appear, and lightly thin interior growth if the plant becomes dense. Avoid heavy heading cuts that would disrupt the natural tiered form; instead, make selective cuts to individual branches to refine silhouette. Pruning is best done in early spring before new growth begins.
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“Japanese Cedar holds profound cultural significance in its native Japan and China, where it has been cultivated for centuries and revered as a symbol of strength and longevity. It is the national tree of Japan, where it appears prominently in temple plantings and sacred groves, reflecting deep connections between the species and Japanese spiritual and cultural traditions. The species traveled from these forested origins to gardens worldwide, where it has been refined into cultivars suited to cooler climates and smaller garden spaces, including the 'Spiralis' selection represented here.”