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Japanese cedar is highly productive on the right site and very adaptable to windy sites. Japanese cedar grows well in Northland's climate and is relatively untroubled by pests and diseases.

Health: Very healthy. Cattle and deer will strip the bark from this species at all ages if given access.

Timber: Japanese cedar timber is reddish-brown, light and stable and the heartwood is durable, suitable for cladding and exterior joinery but not suitable for structural applications. A similar timber to redwood but strongly scented.

Mechanical properties (dry wood)
Species Density, dry (kg/m3) Bending strength, MoR (MPa) Stiffness, MoE (GPa) Hardness, Janka (kN)
Cryptomeria japonica 384 66.1 7.2 1.8

Siting: Requires good soil drainage and moderate fertility. Adaptable to strong winds but not coastal conditions

Steep slopes: Tolerates high wind exposure and fairly thin topsoil provided fertility is reasonable. On exposed ridgetop slopes devoid of topsoil may require the addition of fertiliser (in particular phosphate).

Species characteristics: Tall narrow-conical tree that tends to be lightly branched. For this reason initial stocking does not need to high to control branch size. Management should avoid overstocking and formation of black (dead, bark-encased) knots.

Recommended regime: Plant at 600 stems per hectare.

Key message: Reliable species for steep slopes, provided stock are excluded from the stand.

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