Cryptomeria japonica 'Vilmoriniana'
Common name: Dwarf Japanese cedar
Cryptomeria japonica 'Vilmoriniana' is a dense, mound-forming dwarf cultivar of Japanese cedar. It has short, stiff branches with many branchlets that nod gently at the tips. The foliage is also very stiff and remains olive-green for most of the year, turning bronzy in winter. This cultivar grows about 2.5 to 5 centimetres (1 to 2 inches) a year.
C. japonica 'Vilmoriniana' originated in Japan in the late 1800s, and was brought to Europe around 1904 by French botanist and plant collector Phillippe de Vilmorin. This shrub enjoys full sun to partial shade in a sheltered location.
C. japonica 'Vilmoriniana' may be found in Bed 56 of the Heather Garden, and in Bed 62 near the Douglas Firs. The photos are of the plant in the Heather Garden.
Text and photos by Kumi Sutcliffe