Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants

Taiwania cryptomerioides

Chinese coffin tree

A columnar to conical evergreen tree that may reach heights in excess of 50m in the wild but will grow much shorter in cultivation. The treehas dark grey-brown bark that exfoliates in strips and slender, drooping branchlets with blue-green, awl-shaped to sickle-shaped, sharply-pointed juvenile leaves that become scale-like as the tree ages. Mature trees produce cylindrical cones to 12mm long

Synonyms
Taiwania flousiana

Join the RHS

Become an RHS Member today and save 25% on your first year

Join now
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
Higher than 12 metres
Time to ultimate height
20–50 years
Ultimate spread
Wider than 8 metres
Growing conditions
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Grey Silver Brown Blue Green
Summer Grey Silver Brown Blue Green
Autumn Grey Silver Brown Blue Green
Winter Grey Silver Brown Blue Green
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

West–facing or East–facing or South–facing or North–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H6
Botanical details
Family
Cupressaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Columnar upright
Name status

Correct

Plant range
Taiwan, China, Myanmar, Vietnam

How to grow

Cultivation

Prefers an acidic or neutral, moist but well-drained soil in a sheltered position

Propagation

Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Architectural
  • Low Maintenance
Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.