Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans' is a delightful evergreen conifer that transforms colour throughout the seasons. Known as the Japanese Red Cedar, it boasts blue/green foliage in the spring that turns fresh green throughout the summer before burgundy-purple and rusty-red in the autumn and winter.
The foliage of Cryptomeria 'Elegans is surprisingly soft and tactile, whilst the horizontal branches have pendulous tips making a fabulous shape. 'Elegans' will reach 4-5 metres height in 20 years with a spread of 1.5 metres and will thrive if planted in moist but well drained soil in sun or partial shade.
The Japanese Red Cedar is a great choice for adding interest to gardens all year round with its attractive form. For a smaller bush form, see Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans Compacta'.
AKA Japanese Cedar Tree, Japanese Red Cedar Tree, Sugi Elegans
Common name: Japanese Red Cedar Tree
Height and spread in 20 years: 4-5 x 1.5 metres
Seasons of interest: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
Foliage: Blue-green in spring, green in summer and purple/red in autumn
Soil: Tolerates most soil types but prefers a moist, well-drained site
Position: Full sun to partial shade
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Planting Cryptomeria japonica Elegans Trees
Our pot grown Japanese Red Cedar trees can be planted at any time of the year. To prepare the planting site, remove all weeds and grass within a metre of your desired planting hole. Dig a square hole as deep as your root mass and approximately 2x as wide. To help your tree establish more effectively, we advise applying root grow (sprinkle in the hole for pot grown trees), especially if you have poor soil.
Gently loosen the tree roots and place into the planting hole. Using 50% of the original soil and 50% compost, fill in the hole and firm around gently, making sure not to bank the soil up around the collar of the tree. We recommend using a stake and tie kit. Visit the help section for further information.
Aftercare Advice for Cryptomeria japonica Elegans
If you’re planting in spring, summer or dry weather, water well and regularly for the first few months. Make sure to keep an eye on young Japanese Red Cedar trees and increase watering if there are extended periods of hot or dry weather. If you’re planting in autumn, you may only need to water your tree a little. We stock a range of irrigation kits, suitable for a variety of planting schemes.
Once planted, it is important to keep the area free of competing weeds and grass for the first couple of growing seasons.
Pruning Advice for Cryptomeria japonica Elegans
Japanese Red Cedar trees do not require a lot of pruning. Simply remove any dead, diseased or awkwardly placed branches from your Japanese Cedar tree as and when you see them.
Delivery Costs
*Free delivery promotion excludes mature trees, extra large kits and delivery to Highlands or Islands. Discount applies at checkout.
Small/medium trees & shrubs
Select semi-mature trees & shrubs
All other mature trees
Mainland UK ex. Scottish Highlands
£8 for any quantity
£35 for 1-4 trees
From £55 for any quantity
Scottish Highlands & the Islands
From £30
Outside Mainland UK
Currently we are unable to deliver outside of Mainland UK
Delivery Times
Next Day Despatch We will always try to get your plants to you as quickly as possible. For many of our trees and plants, if you order today we will despatch your order within 24 hours. We are constantly adding to our range of next day plants, and we do not add a surcharge for this service. Click here to see our next day delivery plants.
Standard Delivery We have one of the widest range of trees in the UK, and for those plants which we cannot despatch next day we will normally despatch within 4 weeks. The despatch time for different products will be confirmed when products are added to your shopping basket
Pre-orders We will only want to deliver your orders when they are perfect for planting! Depending on the season and how well the plants are growing, we will give our best estimates of the despatch dates for pre-orders. These dates may vary and by species and while we will always try to deliver within these timeframes if the expected despatch does change then we will notify you by email.
Special Orders Orders containing pleached or mature trees (trees over 2.5m in height) are delivered within 3 weeks. They require specialist delivery and are grouped geographically. Any customers ordering pleached or mature trees will be contacted and notified of their delivery date.
If your trees are required by a specific date, please let us know as soon as possible; while we can’t offer any guarantees we will always do our best to accommodate you. You can leave instructions in the notes field on the Delivery Page of the Checkout or send us an email at [email protected].
Please note that orders are shipped once all the trees in the order are ready.
Collections Collections are by appointment only at our West Yorkshire-based nursery. If you would like to place an order for collection, please get in touch before placing your order. You will not be charged a delivery cost for a collection and any delivery cost that has been applied will be refunded.
The product table at the bottom of the page gives the forms and sizes available for this variety. Please note, photos are a guideline as all plants are unique. *Pot sizes may vary. Below are definitions of terms:
Supplied Size: Height measured from the top of the pot.
Single Stem tree: Classic tree with one trunk, pruned for a beautiful, natural shape.
Top grafted tree: A height next to this form refers to the length of clear stem, which will not grow taller. Only the head of branches will develop. Ideal for small spaces.
Feathered tree: Branches from the bottom of the trunk all the way up. These branches can be removed if a clear stem is required.
Multi Stem tree: Two or more stems arising from or near ground level, growing from one root system.
Bush: A plant with many stems low down, rather than one clear stem.
Clump: Several plants in one pot that give the appearance of a bushy multi stem tree.
Climber: Naturally climbing plant. Usually delivered running up a cane, ready to position in the garden.
Standard Tree: A more mature tree with an upright clear stem of approximately 1.8m-2.0m (measured from the soil to the lowest branches of the crown). Standards are available in different forms relating to their girth size (circumference of the stem measured 1m above soil level), not height.
