Sakken Sugi Golden Cryptomeria

Cryptomeria japonica ‘Sakken Sugi’

Other Names: Golden Curls Japanese Cedar, Golden Japanese Cedar

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6a-9b (5?) Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Conifer

Height at Maturity: 25-30’+

Width at Maturity: 10-15′ at base

Spacing: 10′ for privacy screens (best staggered rather than straight row); 18’+ for space between plants

Growth Habit / Form: Upright, Pyramidal, Columnar

Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast, 12-15″ per year

Flower Color: None

Flower Size: na

Flowering Period: na

Flower Type: na

Fragrant Flowers: na

Foliage Color: Creamy Yellow new growth matures to Rich Green

Fragrant Foliage: Yes

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun, Morning Sun with Dappled or Afternoon Shade, Morning Shade with Evening Sun

Water Needs: Average; moderate drought tolerance when established

Soil Type: Clay (amend heavy clay to ensure good drainage), Loam, Sandy (amend quick draining soil to retain moisture), Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well Drained; avoid constantly soggy or wet soil

Soil pH: 5.0 – 7.0 ( Acid to Neutral)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Birds, Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer – more info, Disease, Drought (moderate when established), Heat, Insect

Description

A truly magnificent focal point in the landscape that will stop folks in their tracks to stare at in awe, the Sekkan Sugi Cryptomeria, commonly called Golden Japanese Cedar, is a tall growing coniferous evergreen tree with a pyramidal form to 30 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide that wows with grace, form and amazing color. The first time we saw Sekkan Sugi at a botanical gardens we were immediately drawn to this shining beacon. So pretty, it’s one of those trees that begs folks to reach out and touch it. The show starts in spring when creamy white new growth seems to rain down all over the over the tree, from top to bottom, gradually transitioning to a soft creamy yellow before maturing to rich green later in summer and finally developing a bronzy purple cast in cold weather. Very easy to grow and hardy in USDA Zones 6 through 9, Sekkan Sugi is a visually dominant specimen or grouping in the sunny to partially shaded landscape and a fine addition to privacy screen plantings. You might be happy to know the deer turn their nose up to it and it has good tolerance to salty conditions near the coast.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 30 or more feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide at maturity, the Sekkan Sugi Cryptomeria is ideal for use as a focal point specimen or in groupings in sunny landscape borders. Also nice to frame corners of tall homes and other structures or in staggered privacy screen plantings. Can be grown in large pots but might eventually need to be transplanted to the landscape. A fine addition to conifer gardens and rock gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 10 feet apart for privacy screen plantings; 18 feet or more apart for space between trees

Growing Preferences

Cryptomeria is very easy to grow and virtually no maintenance. It is adaptable to many soil types preferring a fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. We suggest at least 5 hours of direct sunlight per day for best performance. As with many other ornamental trees it does not like a constantly soggy or wet soil, nor an always dry one, though trees have moderate drought tolerance when well established. Feed in spring with a well-balanced shrub and tree food that contains iron. No pruning will be necessary except to remove a stray or damaged branch.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant, fertilize, prune and water Cryptomeria.

How To Plant And Care For Cryptomeria Trees

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