Chinese Fir

An ancient tree, Cunninghamia lanceolata is a tall, evergreen, coniferous tree with an upright, almost columnar habit, rounded to pyramidal crown and drooping branches. The bark is deep reddish-brown, splitting to reveal the aromatic, yellow or red inner bark. The leathery, needle-like leaves are a bluish-green, arranged spirally round the twigs. Insignificant flowers appear in May, and female flowers are followed by greenish cones, which later turn brown. Giving year-round interest, Chinese fir makes a superb specimen tree for a large garden, but be aware that it dislikes cold, drying winds.

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Any moist, well-drained soil
Position: Full sun or partial shade
Season of interest: All year
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Height: 82’ (25m) Spread: 30’ (9m)

Photos by Leonora Enking and Harum Koh, cropped, and licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.