Japanese cedar Cryptomeria japonica

The Japanese cedar, the national tree of Japan, is not a true cedar. In fact it is closely related to the giant sequoia and shares many characteristics, not least in its impressive size and lifespan.

The Japanese cedar is the national tree of Japan and it is often planted near temples and shrines for symbolic reasons. Many hundreds of Cryptomeria japonica were planted in Japan in the 17th century and a resulting avenue of trees still exists today, measuring an astonishing 40 miles in length. Growing to an impressive 70m (200ft) in height they can achieve a trunk diameter of 12ft in and although hard evidence is hard to come by, could well live several thousand years in the wild.

A member of the cypress family, this is not a true cedar and is known as 'sugi' in its native Japan. It is also found in China, although whether it is native there or has simply been cultivated there for a very long time is open to question.

The wood of the Japanese cedar is strong and durable and has been used for construction purposes in China and Japan for centuries. Unusually for a conifer, it can be coppiced, that is, cut down near the ground and is still able to grow new shoots. However, as is often the case with trees introduced to Britain, in this case in 1861, here it is regarded almost exclusively as an ornamental addition to the landscape.

Although revered in its native Japan, it is not without its drawbacks, chief among them its pollen. When the male flowers shed their pollen from February, the incidence of hayfever increases dramatically and is also known to adversely affect asthma sufferers.