Cryptomeria Japonica Elegans Bonsai
A sport of elegans and in commerce in england since 1881.
Cryptomeria japonica elegans bonsai. The foliage is green in summer and with the onset of cold weather turns a mahogany plum in the late autumn and winter. There are a number of dwarf varieties that require less frequent pinching out such as elegans nana and globans nana however as slow growing varieties these can take considerably longer to achieve thick trunks and take longer to style. Elegans elegans compacta pyramidata. The male strobili are orange to reddish and show in march and they form solitary round cones that mature within the first year.
Cryptomeria prefers to grow in full sun and in well drained soil. Spherical cones are borne in autumn. Cryptomeria japonica elegans group is a selection with juvenile foliage which is more needle like and softer hence the common name plume cedar. Cryptomeria japonica as bonsai cryptomeria are of the cupressacea family and are a monotypic genus where male and female strobili are borne on the same tree.
Cryptomeria japonica elegans plume japanese cedar one of our most popular conifers elegans has dense soft non prickly juvenile foliage that turns rich copper red in winter and back to blue green with bronze tips in spring. Many varieties of c japonica are commonly used for bonsai for instance. It is one of the best choices when growing conifers in containers and is frequently used for bonsai because of its thick trunk and branches and for how easily it can be shaped. This variety has been around for a long time and was actually imported from japan in the 1800 s.
Elegans nana some equate this to elegans compacta however hillier states that it is a very dense slow growing shrub which bronzes in winter. Cryptomeria japonica evergreen conifer forming a cone of bright green foliage which emerges yellow in spring and takes on attractive blue tones in winter. Spherical cones are borne in autumn. It is the perfect backdrop to witchhazels and red and yellow stemmed cornus.
It differs from elegans compacta by having a tighter habit straight leaves and fairy stiff to the touch. The tree thrives when planted.