Dwarf Japanese cedar ‘Elegans Nana’ is a dwarf cultivar in the cypress family (Cupressaceae). It is a very slow-growing conifer evergreen shrub with a dense, rounded, flat-topped growth habit. It prefers full sun or partial shade with neutral to acidic, well-drained, moist soil. Light afternoon shade and protection from strong, drying winter wind are recommended. This is a low-maintenance plant with a mature height and width of 4 to 7 feet. It requires little if any pruning to maintain its form. It is resistant to compaction, deer, diseases, drought, salt and urban conditions. ‘Elegans Nana’ has short, finely textured needles that are bluish-green in the summer and turn to a purple color in the fall. The bark on the current year’s growth is green, then darkens to brown. It has showy exfoliating bark. This is an interesting specimen plant for smaller areas and containers. It can be used as an accent plant, along a border, around a lawn, patio or along walkways. It can also be used as a foundation plant. It is perfect for an Asian, rock or any drought-tolerant garden. It can also be used in a mass planting or in small groups. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: may be susceptible to mites, fungi, die back leaf spot and leaf blight. Leaf blight can cause foliage to turn brown. Blight can be avoided by locating plants in areas with good air circulation and avoiding wet foliage. More information on Cryptomeria japonica .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheCotinus obovatusCryptomeria japonica 'Magic Dragon'Juniperus horizontalis 'Mother Lode'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Poisonous; Shrub
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in. | Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Rounded
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Blue; Brown/Copper; Green
Leaf type
Needles; Simple
Leaf arrangement
Whorled
Leaf shape
Acicular
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Soft
Leaf value
Long-lasting; Showy
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Juvenile foliage is a soft bluish-green in the summer turning to brown in the winter months. Mature growth is prickly. This evergreen shrub is compact appearing like a flat-topped globe.
Fall color
Purple/Lavender
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Male (pollen) cones are in clusters near the apex of branches and are oblong and scaly. Female (seed) cones are round, brown, rosette looking on terminal branches singly or in groups.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Green
Bark detail
The bark on the current year's growth is green, then darkens to brown. Showy exfoliating bark.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Green
Stem detail
Branches are whorled and horizontally spreading to slightly drooping. Branchlets are green the first year. Winter buds are small and non-scaly.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Lawn; Patio; Walkways
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Drought Tolerant Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Accent; Border; Foundation Planting; Mass Planting; Small groups; Specimen