Other Names:  Vilmoriniana Gold Japanese Cedar

Description:

A very low, mounded dwarf shrub with a lovely texture and symmetrical branching; striking light yellow newer foliage is best in full sun, and takes on copper-purple tones in late fall and winter; excellent for accenting in a rock garden or borders

Ornamental Features

Vilmorin Gold Japanese Cedar is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the garden for its interestingly mounded form. It has attractive green-variegated yellow foliage which emerges buttery yellow in spring. The tiny needles are highly ornamental and turn coppery-bronze and purple in the fall, which persists throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Vilmorin Gold Japanese Cedar is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a mounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Vilmorin Gold Japanese Cedar is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Vilmorin Gold Japanese Cedar will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is particular about its soil conditions, with a strong preference for rich, acidic soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Vilmorin Gold Japanese Cedar makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. It can be used either as 'filler' or as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, depending on the height and form of the other plants used in the container planting. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.