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Woody > Platycladus > Platycladus orientalis > Platycladus orientalis

Platycladus orientalis


Oriental Arborvitae, Oriental Cedar




Origin:  China, introduced before 1737.
            Mike's Opinion

this is Mike

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An elegant plant used as a hedge, or as a solitary specimen in the landscape.



Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)

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Family
Cupressaceae
Genus
Platycladus
Species
orientalis
Category
Woody
Type
Tree (evergreen)
Synonyms
Thuja orientalis
Pronunciation
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-11
Canadian Hardiness Zone
6
RHS Hardiness Zone
H7
Temperature (°C)
-23 to -26
Temperature (°F)
0 to -10
Height
5 - 8 m
Spread
3 - 5 m
Photographs
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
May
General Description
Transplants well, tolerant of most conditions, except for boggy sites. Best in full sun, tolerates some shade. Not to be planted where it will be exposed to winter wind; it is pH adaptable.
Landscape
Suited to hedging, where it produces a dense form when clipped. It can be used also as an evergreen accent either clipped or left slightly informal.It unlike, its cousin Thuja occidentalis will regenerate from old wood permitting the renovation of old hedges.
Cultivation
Easily transplanted, produces seed freely in cultivation, prefers a moist loamy soil, and grows best on freely draining sites.
Shape
Dense, conical shape.
Growth
Slow
ID Characteristic
Bruised leaves emit an odour, branchlets arranged in a vertical pattern. Hard horn-like cones. It tends to keep its green colour in winter. Shredding gray-brown bark. There is a distinct groove on the back of scales.
Pests
Bagworm, spider mites and canker.
Habitat
Steep dry rocky valley slopes, moist, well drained soils, Korea and China.
Bark/Stem Description
Shredding and brown to grey-brown in colour.
Leaf Description
Smaller than those of other species, distinctly grooved on the back, those on main axis about 1.25 cm long, triangular, ending in a blunt point.
Flower Description
Monoecious, terminal, solitary.
Fruit Description
Cones roundish egg-shaped, 2 cm long, fleshy, bluish before ripening, scales usually 6 ovate, medium brown colour.
Colour Description
Bright yellow-green to grass-green in youth, darker green when older.
Texture Description
Medium-fine.
Propagation
Seed germination is relatively easy. Stratification of seeds for 60 days at about 4°C may be helpful. It may also be propagated by cuttings.
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