This Underutilized Dwarf Conifer Is a Great Boxwood Substitute

Japanese cedar is an extremely beautiful , variable , and overlooked coniferous tree that offers much entreaty in the landscape painting . Not an actual cedar tree at all , Nipponese cedar tree is in the genusCryptomeria , which is in the family Taxodiaceae — the same family that includes bald cypress ( Taxodiumspp . and cvs . , Zones 5–11).Cryptomeria japonicacan reach 50 to 60 human foot grandiloquent in cultivation and 80 foot tall in the wild . It can be save more compact with carefulpruning , but proper cultivar selection can extinguish the want to cut entirely . Nipponese cedarwood aredrought tolerantonce established , and they also put up the humidness ofsoutheasterngardens . Over 100 cultivars of Japanese cedar are available in the United States , including 12 - inch dwarf signifier .

‘ Globosa Nana ’ has long been my favorite cultivar . As the name suggests , it forms a natural globular , billowy shape without pruning . Its soft needle make you require to pet it , and it jiggles when you hug it ! The spirally coif needles are bright unripened in summer and heighten to dark green in winter . In colder , more exposed sites , foliage may develop attractive musical note of bronze and even amber . Some cultivars of Nipponese cedar tree bring about an overabundance of male cones that can take off from a industrial plant ’s overall look , but ‘ Globosa Nana ’ is not one of those . It requires little forethought and grows well with average wet in good , well - drain gardensoilin full sunlight to mottled specter .

In 10 long time , ‘ Globosa Nana ’ can reach 4 feet tall and wide . A 30 - yr - old specimen at the National Arboretum in Washington , D.C. , is 8 feet grandiloquent and wide . It makes a good substitute for boxwoods ( Buxusspp . and cvs . , Zones 5–9 ) , dwarf yaupon hollies ( Ilexvomitoriacvs . , Zones 7–11 ) , Nipponese hollies ( I. crenataand cvs . , Zones 5–7 ) , and other common foundation plant life . If the need get up to dress ‘ Globosa Nana ’ , I like to do so inNovemberandDecember , when I can make usage of its soft leafage inholiday decorations . It works well in tabletop arrangement and make water excellentholiday coronal . I have 20 grow at my farm just for economic consumption as cut verdure .

If you ’re look for dwarf Nipponese cedars that are even little , think Dragon Warrior ™ ( C. japonica‘sPg-3 - 005 ’ ) , which strive 3 to 4 foot improbable and 2 to 3 foot wide in 10 years , and Dragon Prince ™ ( C. japonica‘sPg-3 - 014 ’ ) , which gets 2 to 3 ft marvelous and 3 to 4 feet wide in 10 class . With its blue - green foliation , Chapel View ™ ( C. japonica‘PIICJ - I ’ ) is also a notable option ; it reaches 7 to 8 feet marvellous and 5 to 6 feet wide in 10 years .

‘Globosa Nana’ Japanese cedar

Cryptomeria japonica‘Globosa Nana’

Zones:6–9

condition : Full sun to fond tone ; well - drained grime

Jason Reeves has been putting plant to the tryout at the University of Tennessee in Jackson since 2002 and can be followed on Facebook at“Jason Reeves – in the garden . ”

Illustration : Elara Tanguy

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