Common Name: taiwania
Type: Needled evergreen
Family: Cupressaceae
Native Range: South-central China, Myanmar, Taiwan, Vietnam
Zone: 8 to 10
Height: 100.00 to 180.00 feet
Spread: 30.00 to 50.00 feet
Bloom Time: Non-flowering
Bloom Description: Non-flowering
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Leaf: Evergreen
Culture
Best grown in moist, rich, acidic, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates light shade. Soils should not be allowed to dry out. Site in a location protected from winter winds.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Taiwania cryptomerioides is an evergreen conifer (cypress family) that features a conical to columnar crown, dark gray-brown bark that exfoliates in strips and dimorphic (having two forms) leaves. In the wild, this huge tree (related to the California redwoods) will grow over time to 175' tall or more. In cultivation, it will grow much shorter. In 1904, it was discovered growing on the western slopes of Mt. Morrison, Taiwan by N. Konishi. It is native to Taiwan, hence the genus name, with a variety (Taiwania cryptomerioides var. flousiana) being found in southwestern China and Myanmar. 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). Taiwania cones (to 1/2" long) do not appear until branches with flattened, scale-like leaves are produced.
Genus name comes from Taiwan (Formosa) where the one species of this genus, T. cryptomerioides was originally found.
Specific epithet means like Cryptomeria as the juvenile needles resemble Cryptomeria japonica (Japanese red cedar).
Problems
No known serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Rare and difficult to find in commerce. Where winter hardy, it may be grown as an ornamental tree.