A truly distinctive and ancient conifer, Sciadopitys verticillata is native to Japan and admired for its unique, architectural form. This slow-growing evergreen forms a dense, conical-shaped tree when young, making it an excellent specimen for feature planting.

Its most striking feature is the deep green needles arranged in whorls, radiating outward from the stems in a pattern reminiscent of an umbrella. The evergreen foliage maintains a rich colour, contributing elegant structure and texture to both formal and naturalistic gardens.

Best suited to a sunny or part-shaded position in well-drained soil, it is ideal for containers, rock gardens or as a standalone focal point in the landscape. While it grows slowly, its presence is bold and refined making it a long-term investment in garden character. It prefers consistent moisture but dislikes overly wet roots.