Hi all, Rubberwendy here. I have an evergreen tree in my garden I purchased from Norfolk, UK around 5 years ago. It started around 4 foot tall but is now reaching about 12 foot in height (surprised at the speed of the tree in all honesty!). A relative of mine recently came to stay with us in Manchester and commented on how much she liked this tree. She took (with my blessing of course!) a cutting from it and on returning home to the Midlands, took it around a series of Garden Centres in order to determine it's name...unfortunately nobody could identify it. I would've thought this would be easy to identify, but it is looking like its a bit of a puzzle (I've attempted to search all over the internet to little avail!). I can describe is as follows: it has 'rubbery' thin, stem like leaves (almost stretched sponge like) but looks like a conifer/fir tree. From above (and given it's height I have to view this from an upstairs winder) it turns coppery, seemingly more so in the winter. I've attached a couple of picture which may help. Many thanks. rubberwendy
Welcome rubberwendy.Looks like Cryptomeria japonica Elegans.Common name Japanese cedar. see..... http://images.google.com/imgres?img...microsoft:en-gb:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7SUNA&sa=N
If not markedly purple-tinted may be 'Elegans Aurea' or 'Elegans Viridis'. Looks yellowish-green in close-up shot.
Many thanks! I knew that the last bastion of knowledge spurts would be the internet forums...they never let you down (they confuse you, spend your money and time, but always hit the bulls eye). Indeed the Japanese Cedar is remarkablyclose...it's a rich green all over mind you, aside from the top (and under carriage, if I may be so bold?) - no hint purple or yellowish green. The name 'Japonica' rings a bell however. I kept the tag on for a couple of years, but the trunk girth (and colony of snails for that matter) seems to have displaced this. I think we're really close - whilst typing this, I can't see where you folks are posting from (US?) so perhaps the UK name is slightly different? Huge thanks - nearly there...and apologies if I've posted in the wrong threads/boards (could a tree be conceived as a plant?). Cheers, Rubberwendy.
To my eyes, they both look the same (I'm clearly an amateur here). If you could let me know the difference (and how I would look for this on my own tree) I would be very grateful. I think 'Japanese Cedar/Japonica' has hit the nail on the head. The internet/human conscience (same thing!) has once again been a revelation. Wales and the US - cheers! Rubberwendy
"'Elegans Aurea' has fantastic light green foliage that at sometimes appears chartreuse. A wonderfuly upright Japaneses Cedar that grows very fast almost columnar whan young becoming a little broader with age. Unlike 'Elegans', 'Elegans Aurea' does not bronze during southern winters". Just noticed this quote about the Elegans Aurea - there is definitely a 'bronzing' with my tree - but only on the upper portions - essentially the tree is a lush green all year round (most resplendent in the rain I must add). Thanks.
Any chance of a picture of a seed pod or cone? I know that helped a local expert identify a plant that had been misnamed for years at a former botanical garden.
I'm fairly certain this tree has never had seed pods or cones. I will however, take a good look later on...but I don't recall ever seeing any. Many thanks.
Agree with Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans'. Common name Sugi, it is not a cedar (Cedrus species). 'Elegans' is a permanently juvenile foliage cultivar of Sugi (longer, softer needles than on normal adult foliage). It does occasionally bear cones, but not very often, and usually only on much older plants than yours. They are globose, about 2cm diameter, with small spines on the scales.
Thank you very much. Perhaps it's age is the reason for it having no cones at this stage. I do know it's a lovely looking tree and is such a fast grower! Armed with this knowledge, I shall pass this onto to my relative and hope she can source one in the area (they don't really 'get on' with the internet, otherwise I'd suggest purchasing one via that route). Thanks everybody. Rubberwendy.
Again, the yellowishness may indicate it is not 'Elegans' but instead one of the others. If the upper part has gone purplish that may point to it being a clone of 'Elegans' that does not turn readily and fully. The characteristic behavior is for 'Elegans' to turn quite strongly throughout the tree, so much so that sometimes individuals that have died during the winter (from cold?) are not noticed to have been lost until the following growing season, when they don't return to their warm weather coloring - which in forms seen here that turn strongly in winter is not the yellowish green shown in these pictures.
