Sciadopitys verticulata (Japanese Umbrella Tree)

Koyamaki, or Japanese umbrella-pine, a very attractive evergreen tree and is popular in gardens, despite its slow growth rate, it’s a unique conifer endemic to Japan. It can get to 15 – 27m tall and the main shoots bear whorls of long felxible cladodes – they look like and perform the function of leaves, but are actually composed of stem tissue. The small cones mature in about 18 months, and have flattish scales that open to release the seeds.

N.B. When clipping several plants with the same tool, have a bucket containing a 5% bleach solution and swish your blades around for 30 seconds between plants to sterilise them. This will help avoid the chance of cross contamination of disease.

As with all woody plants, plant high, exposing as much of the taper at the base of the trunk as possible. Allowing soil to accumulate round the base of a tree can be fatal. Keep very well watered when first planted.

Hardiness level Green

Find out more

IF IT HAS A GREEN TRAFFIC LIGHT

×

Hardy anywhere in Britain below approximately 1000ft (300m)

This is only meant as a guide. Please remember we're always on hand to give advice about plants and their frost hardiness.

Please remember that these coloured labels are only a rough guide.

General Point about Plant Hardiness: The commonly held belief that it's better to 'plant small' is perfectly true with herbaceous plants, but not necessarily true with woody plants. They need some 'wood' on them to survive severe cold - so plants of marginal hardiness in very cold areas should really be planted LARGER, rather than smaller, wherever possible.