Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria Japonica) 30 seeds (#224)

The tall, regal Japanese cedar is a lovely needled evergreen tree native to the open forests of China and Japan. It is admired for its attractive pyramidal to ovoid habit, coarse green needles and straight trunk lined with attractive reddish brown exfoliating bark. Its branches are full and form billowing, cloud-like clumps of needles which make a dense canopy. This is a long-cultivated tree with many unique and distinct cultivars to include variegated and dwarf selections.
The coarse, spirally arranged needles of Japanese cedar are blue-green to bright green through the growing season and turn shades of purplish bronze to brown in winter. Its clusters of small male, or pollen, cones are borne along the axils of the second year branchlet tips and pendulous reddish brown female, or seed, cones are borne singly along the branch tips. The pretty exfoliating reddish brown bark is most conspicuous on the trunks of older trees but is typically obscured by the dense canopy of younger specimens.
Japanese cedar tolerates most well-drained, slightly acid, fertile soils and prefers full sun but will withstand partial shade. This is not a tree for dry or windy spots. When subjected to these stresses specimens look puny and spindly. There are many landscaping applications for Japanese cedar depending on the cultivar. Large forms are excellent evergreens for large-scale screening or massing. More compact selections are ideal for foundation plantings and small-scale landscapes. This is a favorite tree for bonsai. Fungal blight is a common disease problem that can cause branch dieback. (info source: Learn2Grow.com)

Genus - Cryptomeria
Species - Japonica
Common name - Japanese Cedar
Pre-Treatment - Required
Hardiness zones - 5 - 8
Height - 60'-80' / 18 - 24 m
Spread - 20'-30' / 6 - 9 m
Plant type - Medium Tree
Vegetation type - Evergreen
Exposure - Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
Growth rate - Medium
Soil PH - Acidic, Neutral
Soil type - Clay, Loam, Well Drained
Water requirements - Average Water
Landscape uses - Feature Plant, Foundation, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier
Leaf / Flower color - Green / --

GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
Soak the seeds in warm water for 12 hours.
The seed germinates better if given a short cold stratification for 1-2 month at +4C.
Germination usually takes place within 3 - 9 weeks at +15C.
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. (info source: pfaf.org)