Agroforestree Database

Local names:
 English (Japanese red cedar,Japanese cedar,elegans), French (cryptomeria du Japon), German (Japanische Sicheltanne,crittomeria del Giappone), Japanese (sugi), Spanish (criptomeria)

Cryptomeria japonica is an evergreen tree that grows to a height of 35-60 m and attains a bole diameter of 1-3 m. Trunk straight, in old trees massive, buttressed; bark thin on young trees, smooth, purplish-brown, on large trees 2-3 cm thick, reddish-brown, weathering grey, exfoliating in long, shredding strips. Branches spreading to assurgent, forming a conical crown in young trees, self-pruning to leave a clear bole in large trees.

Branch foliage dense, with leaves lasting 6-12 years, shedding not individual leaves but ultimate lateral branchlets which persist 4-8 years, these variable in length, spreading but incurved in various degrees, directed forward, linear-subulate, slightly flattened laterally, distinctly keeled abaxially, leathery, stiff, green, 3-20 (-25 but free up to 18 mm long) by 1-2 mm, apex acute; in juvenile leaves there are 2-3 resin ducts, in mature leaves this number is usually reduced to a single duct on the abaxial side of the stele.

Flowers monoecious, male catkins long, clustered at the end of branchlets, anther cells 3-5 at the base of scales, near but above seed cones, axillary and crowded toward the ends of 2nd year branchlets, 3-6 x 2-3 mm, elongating up to 10 mm when ripe to shed pollen.

Seed cones terminal on down-curved branchlets with normal leaves, often aggregated or solitary, occasionally with proliferating vegetative short shoot at apex, globose, squarrose with spreading bract-scale complexes, soft, woody, 12-25 mm diameter.

Seeds 2-5 per bract-scale complex depending on space available when intercalary scale tissue develops, 4-5 by 3 mm, flattened, irregularly ovate with 2 wings of unequal (1-1.5 mm) width forming a strip around the seed.

This is a monotypic timber-yielding genus. The generic name is derived from the Greek works cryptos (hidden), and meros (part), because the parts of the flower are not easy to distinguish.

Ecology

This is a shade tolerant species that can withstand frost. It occurs in mountains and hills in areas of higher rainfall in south and central Japan but is rarely spontaneous. Plants are fairly wind-tolerant. Prefers a deep rich moist alluvial soil and a sheltered position in full sun.

Native range
China, Japan

Tree management

Pricking out at a spacing of 90-120 cm is effected in June. Shade is removed after 3 months, and seedlings are transplanted when 3 years old to the field at a spacing of 5.4 m in June or December-January. Pure plantation produces better quality wood than mixed stands where the trees tend to grow fast.

The sugi should be grown in full sun, sheltered from harsh winds and where the air circulation is good especially in summer to prevent leaf blight. Although plants may grow 60-120 cm /yr when young, they rarely require pruning if properly located in the landscape. The tree may require pruning for access beneath the canopy. It thrives best with afternoon shade in the southern part of its range. Unlike most conifers, this species can be coppiced.

There are about 330 000-400 000 seeds/kg. Seed storage behaviour is orthodox, viability is maintained for 4 years in cold hermetic air-dry storage. At room temperature, seeds lose viability in a year, however viability is maintained for long periods in cold hermetic air-dry storage. Complete loss in viability after 3 years hermetic storage at 0 deg. C with 6-8 % moisture content, but no loss in viability after 6 years at –20 deg. C with these moisture contents.

This is a shade tolerant species that can withstand frost. It occurs in mountains and hills in areas of higher rainfall in south and central Japan but is rarely spontaneous. Plants are fairly wind-tolerant. Prefers a deep rich moist alluvial soil and a sheltered position in full sun.

Propagation is mainly by cuttings from mature trees and seed. Seeds are sown broadcast mixed with wood ash, fine earth or leaf mould in shaded beds, which must be watered daily. Germination takes place after 14-28 days and germination rate is quite low. Seedlings can be transplanted after 12 months. 

Seed are sown in early spring in a cold frame. The seed germinates better if given a short cold stratification for 2 - 3 weeks at 4 deg C and is then placed in a warm position. Germination usually takes place within 3 - 9 weeks at 15 deg C.

It is used widely for afforestation purposes.

Timber:  Trees grown in India produce soft, light and fragrant wood. The sapwood is white, heartwood is reddish brown and sometimes even black as in aged trees in Japan. The timber is extensively used in Japan for staves, tubs, casks, for building and furniture. It is durable, easy to preserve, saw and season. It is used for light construction, boxes, veneers and plywood. Old wood that has been buried in the soil turns a dark green and is then much esteemed. 

Shade or shelter:  This tree is used as shade on agricultural land. A fairly wind-tolerant tree, it can be used in shelterbelt plantings. 

Tannin or dyestuff:  The bark contains 6 % tannin.

Medicine: Oil and/or a resin from the plant is depurative and also used in the treatment of gonorrhoea. 

Gum or resin:  The tree exudes a resin from which cryptopimaric acid and a phenolic acid are isolated.

Ornamental:  The sugi makes a dramatic landscape element for open lawns or streets with its characteristic billowy pyramidal form. The reddish brown bark is ornamental, peeling off in long strips, and is the most pronounced characteristic on old trees. The tree is tolerant of compacted soil and performs well in parking lots and other difficult urban sites.

The tree is used as a windbreak, it makes a good accent, screen, or border tree for small properties due to its compact, dwarf habit.

Essential oil:  Wood on steam distillation yields 1.5 % essential oil, Sugi Oil or Japanese Cedar Wood Oil which is a viscous, greenish liquid containing 40 % sesquiterpine alcohol. Leaves yield about 0.7 % essential oil that is brownish yellow with a str