What: Cryptomeria japonica Elegans Group is a selection with juvenile foliage, which is more needle-like and softer, hence the common name Japanese plume cedar. The foliage is green in summer and, with the onset of cold weather, turns a mahogany plum in the late autumn and winter. It is the perfect backdrop to witchhazels, and red- and yellow-stemmed cornus. As a young plant, it’s excellent in containers, particularly larger containers planted for winter. The soft texture combines well with other conifers that might be more stiff in appearance. It’s also good with Japanese maples. This cultivar was introduced from Japan in the mid 1800s.
Where: This elegant Japanese cedar thrives in full sun to dappled shade. It prefers a site with well-drained soil, but it will tolerate sandy or clay soils.
Size: Grows to 15 feet tall and 5 feet wide in 10 years.
Care: During dry weather, provide occasional watering. It needs very little pruning. If more than one main growing stem forms, prune out the weaker stem to maintain the most graceful form.
— greatplantpicks.org
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