Cunninghamia lanceolata

RHS Plant Profile
Chinese fir

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Chinese fir RHS / Joanna Kossak
Chinese fir RHS 2003

Synonyms

Cunninghamia sinensis
Cunninghamia unicaniculata

Conifers Trees
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A columnar to narrowly conical evergreen tree to 20m, with furrowed, red-brown bark and 2-ranked, dark green, needle-shaped leaves, whitish beneath

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
20–50 years
Max Spread
4-8 metres
Max Height
Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

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

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or North–facing or West–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)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Cupressaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus
Cunninghamia are evergreen trees with reddish bark and rigid, narrowly lance-shaped or linear, dark green leaves, paler beneath, arranged in two ranks on the shoots; cones are spherical, brown
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
China

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well-drained soil. Protect from cool, drying winds. Will tolerate coppicing

Propagation

Propagate by seed or ripe-wood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Architectural
  • Low Maintenance

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free