Cryptomeria japonica 'Little Sonja'

RHS Plant Profile
Japanese cedar 'Little Sonja'

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Japanese cedar 'Little Sonja' RHS / Janet Cubey
Japanese cedar 'Little Sonja' RHS / Janet Cubey

Synonyms

Cryptomeria japonica 'Sonja'

Conifers Shrubs
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'Little Sonja' is a dwarf, evergreen conifer reaching a height and spread of 50cm in ten years with soft, green, spirally-arranged, awl-shaped leaves

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
10–20 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
North–facing or West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H6

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Cupressaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Cryptomeria are large evergreen trees with attractive red-brown bark and dense foliage consisting of short awl-shaped leaves arranged spirally around the branchlets; cones are spherical
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in any moist but well-drained soil in a sheltered position

Propagation

Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Rock garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Low Maintenance

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to phytophthora root rot and honey fungus (rarely)