SafePlants

Cryptomeria japonica: The Japanese Cedar

Cryptomeria japonica, commonly known as Japanese cedar or sugi (in Japanese), is an evergreen conifer prized for its slender, pyramidal shape and year-round interest. Despite its common name, it's not a true cedar but belongs to the family Taxodiaceae.

Considerations for Pets

• This plant has needle-like leaves.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Cryptomeria japonica (L.f.)
• Common Names: Japanese cedar, Japanese red-cedar, sugi
• Family: Taxodiaceae
• Synonyms: Cupressus japonica, Cryptomeria fortunei

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to Japan, specifically Honshu, Shikoku, and Yakushima. Its natural distribution within Japan is discontinuous and scattered.
• Also found in China.
• Grows in mountainous habitats.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Slender, pyramidal, evergreen conifer.
• Features tiered horizontal branching.
• Has spirally arranged needle-like leaves.

Ecological Role

• The species can be planted on a large scale.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Susceptible to the Japanese cedar longhorned beetle (Callidiellum rufipenne), a wood-boring beetle native to East Asia. The larval feeding of this beetle can cause scarring on the stems.

Quirky Facts

• Cryptomeria is the national tree of Japan and is frequently planted at sacred sites.
• In Japan, extensive planting of Japanese cedar in the 17th century resulted in a 65 km long avenue of trees that still exists today.

Cultivars

• Some cultivars include 'Elegans', 'Yoshino', 'Compacta', 'Elegans Aurea', and 'Sekkan-sugi' ('Golden Curls').

Further Information

• Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)
• ARKive
• Michigan State University's invasive species factsheets