Taiwania cryptomerioides , or Taiwania, is an evergreen conifer in the cypress family and is related to the California Redwoods. It is native to Taiwan (the origin of its genus name) where it grows to 180 feet in the wild, but much shorter (30 to 40 feet) in cultivation.The juvenile needles resemble Cryptomeria japonica (Japanese red cedar). The tree features a conical to columnar crown, dark gray-brown bark that exfoliates in strips and dimorphic (having two forms) leaves. This tree is rarely found in domestic commercial establishments. Within its range, it is rather winter hardy and can be grown as an ornamental. Best grown in moist, rich, acidic well-drained soil in full sun, although it does tolerate light shade. Do not allow the soil to dry out and plant in a location protected from winter winds. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests.
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.
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
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
more than 60 feet
Mature size
Height: 100 ft. 0 in. - 180 ft. 0 in. | Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Columnar; Conical
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Needles
Leaf arrangement
Other/more complex
Leaf shape
Subulate
Leaf feel
Prickly
Leaf size
< 1 inch long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Prickly, blue-green, juvenile leaves are subulate (awl-shaped) to falcate (sickle-shaped) and sharp-pointed, but become scale-like in appearance as the tree matures (dimorphic foliage). Needles are less than an inch long; needle-like or awl-like on young trees up to about 100 years old, then gradually becoming more scale-like.
Flower detail
Does not flower
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
Cones (to 1/2 inch long) do not appear until branches with flattened, scale-like leaves are produced. Cones contain 15 to 30 scales with two seeds per scale.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
South Central China, Myanmar, Taiwan, and Viet Nam
Food & Medicine
Uses (ethnobotany)
Canopy tree. The wood is valuable, which has lead to extensive logging and endangerment of the species.