The Japanese umbrella fir is considered a sacred temple tree in Japan. Even though in this country it likes to regulate poor site conditions with yellow needles, it is still a popular ornamental tree. How tall and wide will it be and what will its overall appearance look like?
How tall does the Japanese umbrella fir grow?
The Japanese umbrella fir reaches a height of 6 to 10 meters and a width of 1.5 to 2 meters in local gardens. In its native Japan it can even grow to 20 to 30 meters high, and in rare cases up to 50 meters.
Growth height in this country and in your homeland
If you plant a Japanese umbrella fir in your garden or elsewhere in this country, you can expect it to grow to between 6 and 10 m high. But that takes a very long time. In its homeland, this conifer usually reaches a height of between 20 and 30 m. Older specimens rarely reach heights of up to 50 m.
With this relatively low growth rate in this country, the Japanese umbrella fir is also suitable for container cultivation. They are often found in front gardens, parks or home gardens. Her charisma in her solitary position is not to be despised. It looks fantastic next to ferns, bamboo and rhododendrons, among others.
How can the height be adjusted?
If 10 m is too much for you, you can keep the Japanese umbrella fir under control with just one cut. But it takes many years for it to reach such a height. In the first few years of life it looks more like a shrub. It is only from the age of around 15 years that the character of the tree can be clearly recognized.
You can regulate the height with pruning shears (€31.00 on Amazon) or a fine saw. The Japanese umbrella fir usually tolerates cutting without any problems. The only thing you shouldn't cut off is the leading drive. Otherwise, this plant will only continue to grow in width. It is better to shorten your side shoots if necessary.
What does the growth of the Japanese umbrella fir look like?
The exterior of this umbrella fir has the following features:
- currently emerging
- looks well-groomed (even without much care)
- under construction
- conical
- evenly
- richly branched
- bubbly branches
- double needles standing together like an umbrella
- Branches are almost at a 90 ° angle to the trunk
- Growth width: 1.50 to 2 m
- Trunk diameter of maximum 3 m
Tip
Thanks to its slow growth of an average of 20 cm per year, the Japanese umbrella fir usually does not need pruning. But in order for the growth to develop naturally and correctly, the right location is extremely important.
