Plant Encyclopedia

Description:

A truly unique and artistic small specimen tree, with densely upright spreading branches, resembles an umbrella, also interesting orange-brown bark; best in full sun, best used as a solitary in the garden

Ornamental Features

Japanese Umbrella Pine is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the landscape for its highly ornamental lollipop-like shape. It has emerald green evergreen foliage. The needles remain emerald green throughout the winter. The shaggy coppery-bronze bark is extremely showy and adds significant winter interest.

Landscape Attributes

Japanese Umbrella Pine is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub, selected and trained to grow in a small tree-like form with the primary plant grafted high atop a standard. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Japanese Umbrella Pine is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Japanese Umbrella Pine will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live to a ripe old age of 100 years or more; think of this as a heritage shrub for future generations!

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.