Cephalotaxus harringtonia Fastigiata

Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata', also known as Japanese cowtail pine, has a characteristic silhouette, particularly elegant and graphic. It forms a small, stout, dark tree with a slightly flared column, and very erect branches. It is a modest-sized conifer, covered with foliage very similar to that of a yew. It produces ovoid, fleshy, green fruits that turn brown when ripe. Hardy and slow-growing, this vigorous and resistant variety appreciates moist soils and tolerates limestone. This accommodating Cephalotaxus is remarkable at the back of a bed, in a large rock garden, or isolated on a short grass meadow.

Cephalotaxus harringtonia, sometimes called Japanese pine or Japanese plum yew, is a conifer in the family Cephalotaxaceae native to Korea, Japan, and certain regions of China. In nature, this species reaches a height of barely 6 metres (20 feet) and a spread of 1.50 metres (5 feet), forming a bush that is wider at the top of the crown than at the base of the branches.

The cultivar 'Fastigiata'  is a particularly elegant form of this species. It has a columnar habit with a slight flare, reaching 1.50 metres (5 feet) in height and 80cm (32in) in spread after 10 years of cultivation, and up to 2 metres (7 feet) in height after many years. It produces many upward-directed branches with disordered branching at the base, unbranched at their tips. They are covered with tough, light green needles for three years, then very dark green, resembling those of yews (Taxus) a lot. They measure 3 to 5cm (1 to 2in) in length, are recurved and arranged in a 'V' shape. They are distributed in two rows on either side of the branches. The undersides of the needles have two very wide silvery stomatal bands. Pretty fleshy fruits appear on the female plants in May and June. They are not very visible and resemble pale green olives, which turn a browner colour in November as they ripen. The male plants, on the other hand, produce small pale yellow sacs filled with pollen in spring. Over time, its bark becomes dark reddish-brown and peels off in scales.

The fastigiate Cephalotaxus is ideal for creating a backdrop in the rear of a bed, or planted as a specimen. The true graphic qualities of dwarf conifers naturally impose themselves in the composition of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of silhouettes and textures to that of flowers. These plants, with their strong personalities, structurally define a bed for a long time, mark pathways, border terraces, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood. They provide a setting for small roses, peonies, or unruly grasses with very complementary temperaments. They can also be associated with shrubs or ground cover plants such as aubrietas, Cerastiums, as well as flowering shrubs. The key is to play with volumes and colours.