Bennet Künnemann, no rights reserved (CC0) · GBIF
Sciadopitys spp.
Japanese umbrella pine
Overview
Sciadopitys is a genus in its own family (Sciadopityaceae) represented by a single species, S. verticillata, the Japanese umbrella pine, native to Japan. It is a slow-growing evergreen conifer forming a dense, narrow, pyramidal crown, reaching 25-40 feet (8-12 m) tall in cultivation over many decades and taller in its native forests. The glossy dark green needle-like structures are 2-5 inches (5-13 cm) long, flattened, and arranged in whorls of 20-30 that radiate like the spokes of an umbrella. Reddish-brown bark peels in long strips on older trunks. Oval cones 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long ripen over two years. Growth is slow, often under 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) per year, and young plants take years to fill out. The species tolerates cold but grows poorly in hot, dry, or windy sites, where the foliage browns.
Native Range
Native to Japan, where it grows in cool, humid mountain forests on the islands of Honshu and Shikoku, in moist, acidic, well-drained soils.Suggested Uses
Grown as a specimen conifer in lawns, large borders, and woodland-edge gardens, and in containers while young, spaced well clear of other plants to show the form. The slow growth suits small gardens for many years. Hot, dry, and exposed sites limit its use.How to Identify
Growing Conditions
Sun Requirements
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight