Cryptomeria — 8 species

Cryptomeria is a genus of elegant conifers native to Japan and China, represented in cultivation primarily by Cryptomeria japonica and its many garden cultivars — from the feathery, bronze-tinted 'Elegans' to the compact, globe-shaped 'Globosa Nana', and even bonsai-trained forms. They prefer full sun to partial shade and consistently moist, well-drained soil; mature specimens tolerate brief dry spells but dislike waterlogged roots. These slow-growing, soft-needled evergreens offer year-round structure. Cryptomeria species are toxic to cats and dogs, so keep pets away from foliage, fallen needles, and plant debris.