Cryptomeria japonica “Black Dragon”

Cedar - Japanese “Black Dragon”

                                          ID#129

 
 

Additional Information: Purchased the first two at: An Eastridge Garden, MD. www.eastridgegarden.com  & Landing Nursery, Grantsboro, NC . The third, certainly during a trip, I have the date but not the location.

Always searching for evergreens to make the beds more “year around” interest, I came across the first of 3 specimens during a trip to the  Maryland nursery with my friend Ginny who also had  collecting plants like I do.

This plant added so much to  the bed that I obtained another one near by my home.


The third one, a year later is not as attractive as the previous two, perhaps the location makes a difference, or cultivar not correct.

HEIGHT X SPREAD: 8-12 ft x 4-6 ft PLANT TYPE: Evergreen, conifer GROWTH RATE: Moderate TEXTURE: medium LIGHT: Full sun, tolerates some shade WATER: moist SOIL: high Organic
As observed in Coastal NC. BLOOMS: Abundance of male cones (tiny/ pale brown) cover the tree in late winter along with the previous year that hang one for a long time. FRUIT AND SEED: Large globe shape female cones among hundreds of male tiny cones during late winter. Cones ripen in 10 months. KEY FEATURES: Irregular broad/conical shape. Dark green with some bronze tones during winter. The large amount of cones in this tree is remarkable.This tree will coppice successfully.
A year cycle in the life of ...... at Mooring Hitch Bed #2, the two trees have plenty of sun but not so much water at times. Both look great displaying abundant male cones during late winter/spring. Cones from previous year still on the tree when the new ones emerge. Bed #11, a year behind than the other two, this tree exhibit sparse greenery and abundance of female cones. Part shade and dry soil may be responsible for the sparse greenery. This plant exhibits more female cones than the other two. In general plants in this bed do not do as well as other locations, Pine trees proximity may be to blame. I’m trying to give more water to this location by using drip hoses. Emerging time, Fertilization, Pruning, Thinning, Seed Collecting, Cutting, Roots, Division,....... Other than fertilize during growing season, no care is required.
          Mooring Hitch Gardens       
 

July 2008, Bed #2 -  street side

July 2008,  corner of Bed #2

July 2008,  East Yard Bed #11

Female cone  (seed cone)

&

male cones (pollen cones)

Abundance of

male cones (pollen cones).

02/2010