CRYPTOMERIA JAPONICA HAS MADE A COMEBACK.
Written by David Sampson of Cedar Lodge Nurseries. Revised March 2008
Some years ago, Cedar Lodge Nurseries started growing Cryptomeria japonica (Japanese Cedar) by cutting propagation and it wasn’t until early customers started coming back and reporting on the exceptional performance achieved, that we really believed we were on to something. As a result, we now have a demand for our selected cutting grown Cryptomeria in the tens of thousands.
Many years ago when the horticultural boom started in Taranaki, people copied what was planted in the Bay of Plenty and used willows and Cryptomeria. These Cryptomeria (being seedlings in those days) did not do at all well in Taranaki’s strong winds. The growth performances were very irregular within the row, with some trees struggling even to survive. The idea soon developed that these seedling grown Cryptomeria were not suitable for Taranaki conditions.
However, with the advent of cutting-grown Crypto’s, all belonging to one clone. That is, from only one parent plant that was selected by us for its form and vigor. We now have a young adult tree that bypasses the delicate juvenile stage. The result is that the young tree grows strongly, withstanding all winds except those severely salt-laden. This clone we have called Cryptomeria japonica Egmont®.
The growth rate of the cutting grown ‘Egmont’ is not far behind that of the fast growing Cupressocyparis leylandii ‘Leighton Green’. We use them extensively as shelter around our nursery. You can almost put a spirit level across the tops, they are so even. The trees are evenly shaped of compact upright form. Cryptomeria withstands heavy trimming well and can be kept very narrow. It filters the wind rather than creating a solid barrier that creates turbulence on the leeward side. Many thousands have been planted, mainly in Taranaki and beyond over the last 5 to 10 years and are now showing up as impressive shelter lines.
This article so far, was written 6 years ago. The update is
that the demand for ‘Egmont’ has exceeded supply each year with approximately
thirty thousand being sold last season, mostly in Taranaki. Demand over the rest
of New Zealand is increasing, as Egmont’s performance becomes more widely known.
Experience shows that ‘Egmont’ is very reliable, as it has no diseases or pests of consequence and in particular soil pathogens (root rot) don’t bother it at all. It is extremely resistant to wind throw and breakage. Cryptomeria will tolerate damper soils than many other trees and in fact it does require adequate soil moisture to grow well, hence it is not suitable for the drier areas of New Zealand.
The resistance to damage from severe windstorms is a great attribute of Cryptomeria. This was borne out firstly by the much talked about Bola storm of some years ago and subsequent reports of localized storms since. Cryptomeria was still standing virtually undamaged while other varieties of trees suffered severe damage around it. This is an extremely important consideration when establishing shelter belts. A toppled tree can damage valuable crops, cost a lot to clean up and leave a wind funnel in your shelterbelt, which is hard to fill in.
We at Cedar Lodge have trade marked the name ‘Egmont’®, that means that a licence to produce Cryptomeria jap. ‘Egmont’ is required from the licence holder.
To this stage most of ‘Egmont’ we have sold is for shelterbelt plantings, but some small timber plantations have also been planted. This brings up the subject of Cryptomeria for timber production. Cryptomeria is a native of Japan where it is the main timber-producing tree of that country. I am suggesting it could be a worthy alternative to Pinus radiate. My experience of growing trees is mainly in Taranaki and when asked by customers what to grow for timber other than Radiata I find it difficult to recommend anything other than Cryptomeria.
Our many years of growing conifers in our nursery, have, unfortunately demonstrated to us that the incidence of cypress canker can not be ignored and I can not in all honesty recommend any of the Cupressus varieties for plantation forestry. I wish I could, but, I can’t. I look around and I can’t find anything else other than Cryptomeria as I know it will grow well just about anywhere in Taranaki just like radiate does.
The clone Cryptomeria jap. ‘Egmont’ ® was selected as a shelter tree and its timber quality is unknown. I understand that timber quality selections with Cryptomeria clones has been done in Japan and I believe attention in this direction could be advantageous to those interested in another option for a timber producing tree that has proved to grow well in so many locations in New Zealand.
Registered Trade Mark®
Hand written letter from Ross Higgins
11 Treeton Place,
Wakefield,
Nelson
19th April 2000
Dear David,
Do you recall me obtaining 300 Cryptomeria japonica (‘Egmont’) from you for the Anglican Church in Wakefield?
Well this is to let you know that in all my years of establishing trees for wood lots, I have never seen anything grow like this.
The land was cut over radiata where everything had rotted out without a fire, it had grown long grass and remained idle for over 20 years, clay land, very steep, facing North.
Your trees never knew they had left New Plymouth, most of them will multiply their size 4 times in 12 months, we have been assisted with a very favourable growing season these trees are clearly visible from Wakefield school if you pass this way.
Regards
Ross Higgins