Cryptomeria japonica 'Pygmaea'

dwarf Japanese cedar

Cupressaceae

Japan and central-southern China (species); cultivar of garden origin

Deer Resistant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 6–9

Overview

Cryptomeria japonica 'Pygmaea' is a dwarf evergreen conifer forming a dense, irregular mound 3-5 feet (0.9-1.5 m) tall and 3-4 feet (0.9-1.2 m) wide over 20-30 years, a fraction of the 50-foot (15 m) species. Short branches are crowded with awl-shaped, spirally arranged needles 0.2-0.5 inch (5-13 mm) long that curve in toward the shoots, giving a bristly texture. The bright green summer foliage takes on a bronze or purplish cast in cold winters and greens again in spring. Small round brown cones occasionally form among the foliage. It grows in full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained, slightly acid soil and is intolerant of drought, drying wind, and waterlogged ground. Growth is slow, and the plant can develop an open or uneven outline with age. Hardy in USDA zones 6-9, this cultivar is grown in rock gardens, foundation plantings, and large containers.

Native Range

The species Cryptomeria japonica is native to Japan and central and southern China, where it grows in moist mountain forests. The dwarf cultivar 'Pygmaea' arose in cultivation and is not found in the wild.

Suggested Uses

Grown in rock gardens, troughs, foundation plantings, large containers, and conifer collections, spaced 3-4 feet (0.9-1.2 m) apart. The slow rate suits small spaces where a full-size conifer would outgrow its place.

How to Identify

Recognized by its low, dense, rounded form and short shoots packed with inward-curving, awl-shaped green needles 0.2-0.5 inch (5-13 mm) long. The foliage bronzes in winter and returns to bright green in spring. Its compact mounding habit separates it from the upright species and from crested forms such as C. japonica 'Cristata'.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 5'

Width/Spread3' - 4'

Reaches mature size in approximately 25 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Spring

As a conifer, this cultivar does not flower. Small pollen cones may shed in late winter to early spring, and round brown seed cones about 0.5 inch (1.3 cm) across occasionally ripen among the foliage in autumn.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

Bright green, slight bronze in cold winters, recovering in spring

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

20-30 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow in full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil that is neutral to slightly acid, around pH 5.0-7.0. Water during dry spells, since the shallow roots are intolerant of drought and the foliage browns in drying wind. A position sheltered from harsh cold wind reduces winter bronzing. Established plants need little feeding beyond a spring mulch. Slow growth means little pruning is required. Hardy in USDA zones 6-9.

Pruning

Prune in spring only to remove dead or damaged shoots and to even the outline. The plant does not regrow from leafless old wood, so cuts stay within green foliage. Light shaping while young keeps the mound dense.

Pruning Schedule

early spring