Plant Library

Other Names:  Granny's Ringlets Japanese Cedar

Brand:  Iseli

Description:

A compact shrub in the Cypress family, with interesting, awl shaped needles that twist spirally around the branches in ringlets; rounded habit when young becoming increasingly pyramidal; a perfect accent shrub that is sure to draw attention

Ornamental Features

Spiralis Japanese Cedar is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the landscape for its distinctively pyramidal habit of growth. It has attractive forest green evergreen foliage which emerges light green in spring. The twisted scale-like sprays of foliage are highly ornamental and remain forest green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Spiralis Japanese Cedar is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Spiralis Japanese Cedar is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Spiralis Japanese Cedar will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.

This shrub does best in partial shade to shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is particular about its soil conditions, with a strong preference for rich, acidic soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Spiralis Japanese Cedar makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Its large size and upright habit of growth lend it for use as a solitary accent, or in a composition surrounded by smaller plants around the base and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.