How big does Japanese cedar grow?

About 3 m × 1.5 m after ten years (height × width).

What soil does Japanese cedar grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, acidic.

Is Japanese cedar hardy?

Hardy down to -23 °C (USDA zone 6, RHS H7). In the colder parts of the country (Podlaskie Voivodeship) it may not survive winter without protection.

How far from the house should Japanese cedar be planted?

Plant it at least 2.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 1.5 m from paving.

How much water does Japanese cedar need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: low.

Japanese cedar

Cryptomeria japonica

Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) is a small tree that reaches 3 m × 1.5 m after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -23 °C. Drought tolerance: low.

Illustration of Japanese cedar — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

An evergreen with soft, feathery foliage and reddish-brown peeling bark, at its best as a specimen or in a Japanese-style garden. Gardens grow its cultivars: these reach about 3 metres in ten years and 2 to 9 metres in time, the dwarf globes only 1 to 2 metres, a fraction of the 40 to 50 metre forest tree of its homeland. It wants acidic to neutral, humus-rich soil that never dries out yet drains well, and a humid spot sheltered from wind; on many cultivars the foliage turns bronze in winter and greens up again in spring.

Watch out for

In Central Europe its problem is the climate rather than pests: it needs humid air and evenly moist soil, and it suffers in hot, dry summers and long droughts, browning and going bare from the inside, so water deeply and regularly in dry spells and mulch it. Strong sun can scorch the delicate foliage of young plants. In winter, drying wind over frozen ground can brown the foliage, hard frost can damage it in exposed sites, and wet snow can pull loose-crowned cultivars apart; plant it in a sheltered spot. Leaf spot and leaf blight occur occasionally but are mostly cosmetic.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 3 m × 1.5 m
Hardiness: down to -23 °C
Foliage: Evergreen

All details

Group	Small tree
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	3 m × 1.5 m
Ultimate size	1–9 m × 1–3 m
Hardiness	down to -23 °C (USDA 6, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Acidic
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	no data
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Low
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 2.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 1.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	250 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 17, 2026 · How our data is made

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