The Dawes Arboretum

Common name: Cryptomite Japanese-cedar

Family: Cupressaceae (cypress family)

Distribution: Species native to Japan and southern China

Hardiness: USDA Zone 6

Life form: Evergreen tree

Comments: Selected by Tom Cox in Georgia, USA and its sturdy constitution along with fresh green foliage begets the cleverness of its name. This standard sized tree to 40' tall by 25' wide is widely adapted to poor soils and open sites. Like all members of this species, its needles are awl-shaped, grouped spirally in 5's, and older needles are often reddish-brown and persistent. The one inch cones are bony in texture, ovoid and 1" in diameter, and often persist for several years. This Japanese Cryptomeria is nearly 100% free from the threat of deer browse.