Chinese FirCunninghamia lanceolataHeight: 30' average mature height Zones: 7-8 Find my zone Aspect: mostly sun to full sun Watering: needs regular irrigation, about once per week during hot weather Maximum Water: tolerates occasional winter flooding but needs drier soil in the summer Habit: single stem or trunk Foliage: evergreen Growth Rate: medium
Size Availability
Sold out.
Our main crop of most plants is available starting in late fall.
Additional batches of plugs and quarts are added throughout the year.
Many of our plants are propagated in limited quantities and can sell out quickly when posted, get on the notification list below so you don't miss out. Add your email to be notified as soon as we have them back in stock:
This does NOT subscribe your email to any mailing lists, our system will only send an inventory notification message.
Production notes: currently not in production; often we have replaced this variety with a better alternative but it is still in our catalog as we may produce limited batches in the future
The Chinese Fir is one of the most unique looking conifer species we grow with its wide, pointed leaves and often droopy branches. It is hardy to zone 7 but can be grown in a container and brought indoors during the winter in colder climates. Young trees are more susceptible to cold damage than mature trees so protect your tree during extreme cold for the first year or two while it is getting established. One of the easiest ways to protect evergreens from the cold is to get an empty garbage can and put it upside down over the tree and weigh it down with a rock. This adds a few degrees of insulation but more importantly prevents cold, dry winds from blowing over the leaves and drying them out.
Unlike most conifers, Chinese Fir trees can sprout new growth from the base of the tree and over time a single tree will often produce multiple trunks, similar to a California Coast Redwood.
![]() Distinctive new growth on Cunninghamia
Source: Commons
![]() A mature Chinese Fir in the wild
Source: Commons
![]() Close up of the bark
Source: Commons
![]() Cones on an upper branch
Source: Commons
![]() Close up of the unusual foliage
Source: Commons
![]() Close up of the unusual foliage
Source: Commons
![]() Close up of the unusual foliage
Source: Commons
![]() Close up of the unusual foliage
Source: Commons
Packing Plants For ShippingWe pack our plants depending on the needs of each species and size, most plants ship best with the roots packed in moist sawdust or bark fines but some species don't like root disturbance and are shipped in a soil-less growing media.![]() Excess soil is washed from the roots in preparation for shipping (18-24" White Pines) ![]() Plants are bundled together to fit in boxes ![]() Bundles of plants are secured in long boxes. Plant Sizes![]() 3 gallon Dawn Redwood ![]() Standard quart shrub ![]() Standard 14-18" multi-stem tree size ![]() Standard deep plug pine tree Bamboo Plants Are Shipped In Their ContainersBamboo roots are not flexible and so plants have to be shipped in their containers. These plants are heavier and are shipped separately from bare root plants. Because they are potted they can handle longer transit times so can ship via UPS Ground instead of USPS Air Mail. Potted plants can also be shipped year-round.We regularly top our 1 gallon bamboo plants at 24-30 inches tall throughout the growing season. This results in dense, bushy foliage while allowing for economical shipping. From this size most running species will grow to 5-6 feet tall in the first spring and clumping species will usually grow to 4-5 feet tall. ![]() 1 gallon bamboo plants strapped in and ready to be sealed. Unpacking Bare Root PlantsYou will be sent tracking details as soon as your plants are shipped. Unpack your plants as quickly as possible after they are delivered. We use two types of boxes, side-sealing and top-sealing. For boxes that are taped along the whole length you can cut the tape on either side and remove the plant bundles by cutting the tape holding the bundle to the bottom. For boxes that are sealed on the top and bottom, it is easiet to open the bottom of the box (the shipping label is at the top) and pull the bundle of plants out straight out. Check that the box is empty as there can be a second bundle of plants stuck towards the top.![]() A bundle of trees. What if I am not able to plant right away?You can usually leave the plants in their shipping container unopened for 1-2 days if there were no shipping delays and you have received your plants from late November through February. Plants shipped when it is warmer can't stay in their packages for as long.For longer term storage of plants you can pot them up or plant them in rows close together temporarily and then pull them out later in the spring to be planted again. This keeps the roots moist while allowing for air flow to the tops. The roots should have good contact with the soil to ensure they have access to adequate moisture. |
Size Availability
Sold out.
Our main crop of most plants is available starting in late fall.
Additional batches of plugs and quarts are added throughout the year.
Many of our plants are propagated in limited quantities and can sell out quickly when posted, get on the notification list below so you don't miss out. Add your email to be notified as soon as we have them back in stock:
This does NOT subscribe your email to any mailing lists, our system will only send an inventory notification message.
Production notes: currently not in production; often we have replaced this variety with a better alternative but it is still in our catalog as we may produce limited batches in the future
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