Cryptomeria japonica 'Gracilis' / Graceful Japanese cedar

Cryptomeria japonica 'Gracilis' is a strong-growing, conical tree-form of Japanese cedar with open, outspread branches and relatively few thin side branches. Needles are shorter than those typical of the species, 0.08 to 0.12 inch (2 - 3 m) long and directed forwards. Color is a nice bright green year round. Typical rate of growth in most areas is 5 to 10 inches (12.5 - 25 cm) a year resulting in an 8 foot (2.5 m) tall tree after 10 years in the landscape.

This is a very old cultivar that originated in Japan and imported to Leiden, The Netherlands by German physicist, botanist and traveler, Phillip Franz von Siebold in 1859.

Attribution from: Aris Auders and Derek Spicer, RHS Encyclopedia of Conifers, ©2012 Kingsblue Publishing