Cunninghamia lanceolata

China fir is an evergreen conifer from China and Taiwan. It is a very old species known already from the Tertiary. Though very similar to monkey puzzle tree it is closely related to sequoia.

China fir bears flat needles, fresh green from above, silvery beneath, narrowly lanceolate, with a sharp tip, borne densely along the light green branches which become reddish brown with age. Adult trees bear round cones. It grows slowly to moderately into a rather prostrate habit when young. An easy trick how to make young plants grow erect is finding a central leader and staking it for some time. After several years the plants grow upright on their own.

The size varies largely with conditions and climate. In China these trees commonly reach 20m tall. The largest tree outside China is in California and is 32m tall (in 2015), in the Czech Republic the tallest known specimen is about 40 years old and has 10m. It can be kept smaller by pruning in early spring.

China fir is not tolerant of damp conditions or extreme drought. It needs well drained, constantly moist, reasonably fertile, acidic soil, and a location sheltered from strong, drying winds. It is rated hardy to USDA zone 6 and is known to have withstood -24°C without protection.

Last update 12-03-2016