Iseli Nursery: Dwarf Conifers, Japanese Maples, Living Art®, Bonsai

Cryptomeria - Click the individual links below to move its Photo Page
Plant Name	Habit	Zone	Rate	Color	Description
Cryptomeria japonica 'Birodo'	Globe Shaped	6	Dwarf	Green	Short, erect, green needles, like the points of a star, cover the tight branches of this slow-growing, dense mound. As cold weather sets in, the foliage gradually changes to a rich, bronzy purple for winter. Tough, trouble free and resistant to grazing animals, 'Birodo' is an excellent addition to raised garden beds and other close-up spaces, where its character can be seen easily. It will maintain a tight, formal habit without shearing. Protect from desiccating winter winds.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Black Dragon'	Upright Broad	6	Intermediate	Green	Plants grow vigorously in youth, until they attain a height of 4-6'; then the growth rate slows and plants fill in with more compact foliage and branches. The light-green, new growth ages to a deep, dark-green and in winter maintains the darkest green–almost black–of all Cryptomerias, hence the name.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Cristata'	Upright Broad	6	Large	Green	Branches are heavily clothed with foliage, including bright green cockscombs that appear profusely on new growth. With age, this Cryptomeria grows into an open, loosely branched tree. Imported from Japan to Germany in 1900, 'Cristata' looks best when sheltered from drying winds.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans Aurea'	Upright Broad	6	Intermediate	Green	More a bright, light-green in summer, it is the soft, feathery juvenile foliage of this upright selection that puts on a bright chartreuse display in late winter, when the sight is especially welcome. As a large, handsome specimen with cinnamon bark and a tapering trunk, this conifer will add strength and elegance to the landscape year-round. Bright green, fluffy foliage in the summer months takes on yellow hues during winter.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans Nana'	Globe Shaped	6	Dwarf	Green	The winter color of this conifer–purple-red–makes the rounded, somewhat-conical shrub a standout in the winter scene. The rest of the year, the attractive, slow-growing form has soft, feathery, blue-green foliage. This longtime winning selection was introduced in 1881 from China.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Hino'	Globe Shaped	6	Dwarf	Green	The dense, awl-shaped foliage of 'Hino' is green in spring and summer and slightly bronzes in winter. The moderate growth of this dwarf Cryptomeria requires no shearing to retain its compact, rounded form.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Jindai'	Upright Broad	6	Intermediate	Green	This moderate-size Japanese Cedar develops a compact, pyramidal form with dense branching and an irregular texture. Attractive, light green foliage shows very little or no winter bronzing, except in colder regions. Introduced from Japan before 1932, it is an excellent choice for courtyard or patio garden or for a large container.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Kitayama'	Upright Narrow	6	Large	Green	This fast-growing, seedling selection from Kiyoto, Japan, has greater winter hardiness, better habit, and more attractive winter green than other narrow, upright selections, including the more widely known selection 'Yoshino'. Evaluated since the 1970's, this superior introduction has proven its worthiness for the landscape at the award-winning public display at Brookside Gardens, in Wheaton, Maryland.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Little Champion'	Globe Shaped	6	Dwarf	Green	Dense and compact with a graceful, rounded form, this conifer stands out for its unusual foliage: many curvy branchlets are coated with layers of tightly held, awl-like needles that make them look like woven rope. In winter, the sparkling green foliage may take on handsome bronzy highlights, especially the tips. Adaptable and easy to grow, it prefers sun or partial shade in moist, well-drained, acid soil in an open, sunny site.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Mignone'	Upright Broad	6	Dwarf	Green	Tightly held needles on numerous branchlets give this broad, upright conifer a dense appearance that stays green throughout the year. Propagated and named by Ed Rezek from a witch's broom on a tree in Mr. Mignone's garden.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Monstrosa'	Upright Broad	6	Intermediate	Green	Irregular form and congested foliage, but monstrous? Not this plant. Its long, narrow, new growth matures into dense clusters of rich green foliage that contribute to an uneven form. With age, 'Monstrosa' broadens and develops character. Limited Availability
Cryptomeria japonica 'Mushroom'	Globe Shaped	6	Intermediate	Green	Soft green in spring and summer, the finely textured foliage of this mounding, mop-like Japanese Cedar turns a dramatic russet in winter. Its thin, evenly-spaced needles on delicate branches create an open, airy look that requires little to no pruning to maintain. Protect from desiccating winds.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Rein's Dense Jade'	Upright Narrow	6	Large	Green	The unusual texture and rich jade-green of the needles give this handsome form of the species a compelling look during the growing season. Its tightly held foliage, which turns striking purple-bronze in winter, gives branches a well-defined, formal appearance.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Sekkan'	Upright Broad	6	Large	Yellow	It's the color of this large, dense tree that strikes a fancy in the eye of the beholder. Its full, dense foliage beams out an unsurpassed sulfur-yellow. The upright conifer with regularly ascending branches becomes a broad pyramid. Protect from prolonged heat to avoid sunburn.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Spiralis'	Upright Broad	6	Intermediate	Green	Medium-green needles spiral around the branchlets and form twisted ropes of ringlet-like foliage on this densely branched globe when it is young. With age, the intriguing plant develops a leader and a broad, upright habit that makes a dramatic, mid-size impression in the landscape.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Spiraliter Falcata'	Upright Broad	6	Intermediate	Green	The spiral foliage on this unusual Cryptomeria is thinner and lighter green than that of 'Spiralis.' Its habit is more upright too, and the branches twist and curve, making this a collector's conversation piece. Also called 'Yore Sugi', it dates to before 1876.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Tansu'	Upright Broad	6	Dwarf	Green	This light green, slow-growing dwarf has pointed needles and a broadly upright habit that mimics, in miniature, a jagged mountain outline. Even its tiny needles are in scale on the architecturally irregular gem. A perfect sculptural addition to rock garden or container, the plant takes on bronze tones in winter.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Tensan'	Globe Shaped	7	Miniature	Green	This tiny cultivar has an extremely dense habit with foliage that is dark green in summer, red-bronze in winter. It makes an excellent addition to trough or rock garden, but needs some protection in winter, since it is slightly less hardy and more susceptible to frost damage than other dwarf Cryptomeria.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Vilmoriniana'	Globe Shaped	6	Dwarf	Green	Short, pointed, medium-green needles turn bronze-purple in winter on this small, dense, rounded selection. It adds texture and variety to the rock garden or courtyard.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Yellow Twigg'	Upright Broad	6	Dwarf	Green	The new twigs of this dwarf Japanese Cedar are brushed lightly with yellow in spring; then they change to and stay bright green the rest of the year, without bronzing in winter. Short, finely textured foliage, gathered randomly in clusters at the crown, make the upright, pyramidal bush dense with age. Protect from drying winds.