A rare, architectural evergreen with glossy whorled needles that look like living green umbrellas
FEATURES:
- Signature “umbrella” needle whorls that radiate in tight spokes for instant texture
- Glossy, deep green foliage with a polished, almost tropical sheen
- Dense, upright evergreen form that feels clean, tailored, and architectural
- Thick, sculptural branching that gives strong structure even in winter
- Slow-growing, long-lived character that becomes more striking with age
- Evergreen color holds deep green year-round (no notable fall color change)
- Hand Selected; Fresh from the Grower
- Ships on our trucks because the size of the tree - does not fit in a box.
Bower & Branch Landscape Design Tip:
When a plant has this much texture, you don’t need a lot of extras. Give it breathing room, a clean base, and one quiet backdrop, and it will look like a curated garden feature instead of just another evergreen.
Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 4-8
- Mature Height: 20-30' tall
- Mature Width: 10-15' wide
- Exposure: Full Sun/Part Shade
- Spacing: 10-15' apart
Japanese Umbrella Pine
Bower & Branch Trees and Plants
Sciadopytis verticillata
Regular price Sale price| Quantity | Automatic Savings |
|---|---|
| Buy 2 | Save $200 |
| Buy 3 | Save $500 |
| Buy 4 | Save $800 |
| Buy 6 | Save $1800 |
| Buy 10 or more | Save $4000 |
Plant with Confidence when choosing Big & Tall Trees and Hedges!
A rare, architectural evergreen with glossy whorled needles that look like living green umbrellas
FEATURES:
- Signature “umbrella” needle whorls that radiate in tight spokes for instant texture
- Glossy, deep green foliage with a polished, almost tropical sheen
- Dense, upright evergreen form that feels clean, tailored, and architectural
- Thick, sculptural branching that gives strong structure even in winter
- Slow-growing, long-lived character that becomes more striking with age
- Evergreen color holds deep green year-round (no notable fall color change)
- Hand Selected; Fresh from the Grower
- Ships on our trucks because the size of the tree - does not fit in a box.
Bower & Branch Landscape Design Tip:
When a plant has this much texture, you don’t need a lot of extras. Give it breathing room, a clean base, and one quiet backdrop, and it will look like a curated garden feature instead of just another evergreen.
Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 4-8
- Mature Height: 20-30' tall
- Mature Width: 10-15' wide
- Exposure: Full Sun/Part Shade
- Spacing: 10-15' apart
Why plant Japanese Umbrella Pine?
Japanese Umbrella Pine is a rare and exquisite evergreen tree that is sure to spark conversation when planted in your landscape. This choice pyramidal conifer gets its name from the way its foliage is arranged in distinctive tufts—like umbrella spokes—along the branches. Its waxy green needles are handsome and glossy—so glossy in fact, you might find your guests touching them to see if they’re real! Give this slow-growing legacy tree a place of honor in your landscape, where it will be the pride of the garden for years (even centuries!) to come. Japanese Umbrella Pine is really a special tree. Technically, it isn’t a Pine, but belongs to a family all its own, with no living relatives. Like the Ginkgo tree, this unusual conifer is a “living fossil” that has been around since dinosaurs roamed the Earth 230 million years ago. Japanese Umbrella Tree once grew in North America and Europe, but is now found in the wild only in Japan. The Japanese consider this noble evergreen tree to be one of their five most sacred trees, and ancient specimens stand guard over several holy shrines there.
How to use Japanese Umbrella Pine in the landscape?
Umbrella Pine is known as “koyamaki” in Japanese. A koyamaki in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan is said to be over 700 years old. Locals believe it possesses a female spirit with the power to grant the wish of bearing healthy children to women who touch it. You will also find koyamaki at some Japanese hotels. The wood of this tree is water resistant and has a spicy fragrance, and some luxury hotels feature “koyamaki” baths.
How To Plant Japanese Umbrella Pine
Native to the “cloud forests” of Japan, this elegant specimen tree dislikes extremes of hot or cold weather, though it thrives in many parts of New England and the Mid-Atlantic States. A site protected from strong winds and intense afternoon sunlight will suit it best, and the soil should remain moist but not soggy. Given these comforts, Japanese Umbrella Tree is remarkably problem free and low maintenance. In youth, it naturally takes a formal Christmas-tree shape, but in time this tree will open up a bit. If you prefer it to keep that tight pyramidal shape, you can lightly sheer your Umbrella Tree when the new growth emerges in spring.
Frequently Asked Questions
This evergreen does not have showy blooms. It produces small, inconspicuous pollen structures and may form cones as it matures, but it’s grown for its glossy umbrella-like needle whorls and sculptural form.
Water deeply and consistently while it establishes, especially during dry spells. Keep mulch a few inches away from the trunk, and aim for even moisture rather than soggy soil. Once established, it’s much more forgiving, but it appreciates steady care early on.
Pruning is typically minimal. Remove only dead, damaged, or rubbing branches as needed, ideally in late winter. Avoid heavy shaping so the natural architecture and distinctive foliage pattern stay the star.
