Appearance

Appearance

A straight trunk and layered branches form a narrow pyramidal crown. Older reddish-brown bark becomes deeply fissured, and the trunk base may flare strongly.

Growth form

It is a fast-growing deciduous conifer that commonly reaches 62–100 ft (19–30 m) in landscapes.

Leaves

Soft, flat needles and the short branchlets are arranged in opposite pairs. The foliage turns copper to reddish brown in fall and then drops.

Fruit

The tree does not make true fruit. Its seed cones are small, brown, and barrel-shaped, with winged seeds between the scales.

Look-alikes

Where it lives

Typical habitats

• large parks
• pond edges
• street plantings

Range

Its wild range is restricted to south-central China, but it is widely cultivated across suitable parts of the United States.

Preferred conditions

It grows best in full sun and deep, moist, well-drained soil. It tolerates clay and occasional wet ground but needs room for its large trunk and crown.

Life cycle

Seed dispersal

Mature cones open and release winged seeds that can be carried by wind.

Growing it

Care

It is suited to large lawns, parks, pond edges, and broad street plantings in USDA hardiness zones 4a–8b. Seed and stem cuttings are used for propagation.

Conservation

IUCN Red List

ENEndangered·Very high risk of extinction in the wild

Status

The remaining wild populations in China are fragmented, and habitat quality and the number of mature trees have declined.