Umbrella Pine - Sciadopitys verticillata - Growing Japanese Umbrella Pine

Sciadopitys verticillata has a long prehistoric presence and a rich cultural history that make it a compelling plant for the landscape. An example of an ancient relic with staying power, Japanese Umbrella Pine is found in the fossil record from the upper Triassic (up to 230 million years ago) throughout Eurasia and North America. This widespread range was in sharp decline in the lower Cretaceous, and it is now found only in Japan, where it is an important cultural icon.

Umbrella Pine is in a family all its own, Sciadopityaceae, although formerly associated with both the Pine family and the Cypress family. Recent genetic research has revealed that it is a distinct and separate entity, with some authors elevating the group to the status of Order. There is a lack of clarity concerning these relationships, but there is some evidence suggesting a distant connection to Podocarpaceae (through wood structure and cpDNA analysis). The genus name derives from the Greek, with sciado- meaning ‘shadow,’ and pitys meaning ‘pine.’ The species name is from Latin, referring to the whorled arrangement of the leaves.

Actually they aren’t leaves, or even needles. They are called ‘cladodes,’ which appear like and perform the functions of leaves or needles, but are made up of stem tissues. This is one of the clues that tip us to its ancient lineage. The foliage is shiny dark to medium green, 2 to 5 inches long about an eighth-inch wide. Their clustered arrangement at the end of the branches creates the effect that gives us the common name. The bark on older trees is thin, a rich orange to reddish brown and exfoliates in thin strips. The bark is quite handsome but is most often obscured by the thickly held foliage, which covers the tree from tip to root.

Ten feet of growth in ten to twelve years is about average for Umbrella Pine. This makes it a useful evergreen accent in the small garden, as its size at maturity can be 20 to 30 feet by 15 to 20, but it does so at such a slow rate that most of us mortals will only know its adolescence. This slow rate of growth contributes to the species’ declining numbers in the wild, and it is not being planted as a timber crop as often as faster-growing species like Cryptomeria japonica. In its home range of South Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku, it is found in mid-altitude (1500 to 3000 feet above sea level) cloud forest, with the largest trees found in places with high rainfall and humidity, and protection from wind. Chamaecyparis obtusa and our species are two components of some wonderful old growth forests in the native range.

The largest tree is at the Jinguji Temple, Koaza Himejitani Aza Ishikawa in Kyoto Prefecture. It is over ninety feet tall, with a diameter of over twelve feet. This tree has been worshipped locally since 1310, and people touch the tree to bring health to their children. The wood is water-resistant, and has a nice aroma to it. It has been used for boat building, and the bark has been used for caulking. The Japanese name for this tree is Koyamaki, and it was chosen as the Imperial crest for Prince Hisahito, currently third in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne. Lastly, through the use of infrared microspectroscopy, it has been identified as the main source of Baltic amber, which had been formerly thought to be produced by Araucaria or Pine family members.