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The Cryptomeria Radicans tree, also known as Cryptomeria japonica 'Radicans' or Japanese cedar, is a handsome, fast-growing evergreen with soft, vivid green textural foliage. It's a splendid windbreak or privacy screen, but also attractive enough to serve as a specimen tree in a front or back yard. In addition to its visual appeal, it's great for the gardener who doesn't want to spend a lot of time fussing over plants. It needs little extra care, and grows in just about any soil type — including heavy clay. Cryptomeria Radicans is columnar or pyramidal in shape, and it can grow to 30 to 40 feet — and it does that in a short time, putting on 3 to 5 feet of new growth a year. Here are a few more reasons to add Cryptomeria Radicans to your garden:
Once established, it is drought-tolerant, asking only for occasional moisture at the roots.
Deer are not attracted to it, although it is a haven for songbirds.
It is disease-resistant, with few common pests to bother it.
Your Cryptomeria Radicans thrives in full sun, with six hours or more of direct light a day.
Watering
This tree does best when it receives about an inch of water each week, either from rain or supplemental watering.
Fertilizing
Fertilize in early spring before new growth appears with a slow-release product designed for landscape trees and shrubs.
Planting and Care
by Mary Van Keuren | Gardener (30+ Years Experience) – last update on July 12, 2022
Planting instructions
Site your Cryptomeria Radicans where it will get roughly six hours of sun a day, in a spot that is protected from prevailing winds if you’re at the northern end of its range. Unpot your sapling and tease out any encircling roots, which can girdle the tree and slowly kill it. Dig a hole that’s as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. Place the tree in the hole, spreading out the roots to fill the space. Holding it upright and steady, fill in around the tree with topsoil, tamping down as you go to eliminate air pockets. Water thoroughly. You may wish to loosely tie a stake to the main trunk to support the tree until the roots are established. Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of an organic mulch, such as bark chips, around the root zone, being careful that it does not touch the trunk.
Watering and nutrients
The Cryptomeria Radicans tree likes moist soil, especially when it is young. Ensure that your tree gets at least an inch of water a week, either from rain or supplemental watering. If your tree starts dropping needles in very dry weather, try spraying it with water daily. Fertilize your tree in early spring before new growth begins with a slow-release fertilizer designed for landscape trees and shrubs or one intended for acid-loving plants.
Pollination
The Cryptomeria Radicans tree is monoecious, meaning that male and female reproductive organs are on the same tree. Male reproductive parts grow from near the branch tips and are yellow-brown; The female cones are larger and brown, with 20 to 30 scales. Note that the pollen emitted by the male parts can cause an allergic reaction in some people — as well as dogs — in spring and autumn.
Pruning
Although the Cryptomeria Radicans tree will naturally assume a pleasing, pyramidal shape, it’s important to monitor the tree for dead, diseased, or damaged limbs. These should be pruned out whenever you see them. Other than that, there is little need to prune for shaping.
Pests and diseases
The Cryptomeria Radicans tree is largely pest- and disease-free. A few pests to keep an eye out for, however, include spider mites, which may feed on foliage, and scale insects, which can cause yellowing foliage and branch dieback. Use an insecticidal soap solution if you have a severe infestation. The trees occasionally experience leaf blight or leaf spot, which causes foliage to turn yellow, then brown. Prune out infected branches and treat with a copper fungicide.
Achieving maximum results
The Cryptomeria Radicans tree can live up to 600 years, so it’s safe to say that you’ll get your value out of the tree that you plant today. To ensure that this is the case, it pays to take a bit of extra care of these trees when they are young. A mature Japanese cedar needs next to no care. But when you have a newly planted sapling, a little effort can go a long way. First, make sure that your young tree is getting enough water, especially in very hot or dry weather. Although an inch a week is good in normal conditions, a drought may call for double that. Watch for yellowing or falling needles as an indicator that the soil is not moist enough. Second, be sure you plant this tree where it will have enough room to grow to its majestic full height and width. Don’t plant it under utility wires, and keep it a good 10 feet or so away from your home or other buildings, to allow room for the dense foliage to mature.
FAQs
Where does the Cryptomeria Radicans tree grow best?
This tree can be grown in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9. This includes much of the continental U.S., from the Pacific Northwest through most of the southern and mid-western states and as far north as New England. It can generally handle temperatures down to around -20 degrees Fahrenheit.
How quickly will my Cryptomeria Radicans achieve its full height?
If it's getting enough sun, water, and food, these trees can put on several feet of new growth a year until they reach their full height. The documented mature height is 30 to 40 feet, but there are examples, especially in its native Japan, of the tree growing considerably taller.
How is this tree best used in a landscape?
The Cryptomeria Radicans tree is not a shy wallflower. This tall, bold tree can make a definite statement when planted in a front yard and surrounded by smaller shrubs and perennials. Multiples planted in a row can line a long driveway or form a windbreak or privacy screen. A planting of three in an informal grouping is also attractive. Consider combining it with shrubs that flower in shades of red and yellow for an appealing display.
Growing Zones: 5-9 i
Growing zones help determine if a particular plant is likely to grow well in a location. It identifies the average annual minimum winter temperatures across the U.S. provided as a map by the USDA.
(hardy down to -10°F)
Cryptomeria Radicans
Cryptomeria japonica 'Radicans'
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