Sciadopitys verticillata

Description:
This highly prized ornamental conifer is one of the five sacred trees from Japan’s Kiso forest. Its extremely thick green luxuriant needles arranged in great whorls along the twigs and smaller branches and lovely craggy orange brown bark made me stop and admire this tree. Its unlike any other conifer I’ve encountered and had to admire the slightly twisted multi-branched form is very graceful and despite the notable storm that howled through in December 2006 that took out many trees in the Pacific Northwest, this tree survived unscathed whilst neighbouring Atlas cedars had branches ripped off cleanly at the trunk in great vertical sheets.

Notes:
Considered a 'living fossil' as samples of this species are found in North America and Eurasia. Now its the only member of its genus. Classed as a vulnerable on the Endangered Species listing. In light of our recent experience with this species, the seed will be kept in the cone in the fridge until ready to ship.

Cultivation:
After years of trying, our first success came last year. Cones (thus seed) was harvest in March so the seed received winters cold wrath. Cones in their entirely were placed in plastic bag and tucked in a warm dark spot. By late July/early August the seeds nestled within the cone's scales started to germinate with abandon! Individual seedlings were pricked out and transplanted into an equal blend of compost amended peat and coarse sand. Never ever over water. Protect from slugs or suffer the consequences. Likes some supplemental light to simulate a 16 hour day. Never ever let the seed dry out!