Taxus cuspidata var. nana ("Kyaraboku")

Japanese name: キャラボク （伽羅木）
Scientific name: Taxus cuspidata var. nana

[Overview]
An evergreen coniferous shrub.
The lower part of the trunk creeps along the ground, and the branches spread sideways.
The branches and leaves are dense.
The leaves are alternate simple leaves arranged spirally, and linear.
It is dioecious, and both male and female flowers are borne singly in the leaf axils.
The seeds are spherical and ripen to greenish brown, enclosed in a fleshy aril that turns red when ripe.
The aril is sweet and edible, but the seed inside is poisonous, so caution is needed.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed, by cuttings, or by layering.
When growing from seed, collect seeds whose arils have ripened red, then wash off the aril and sow immediately, or bury the seeds in moistened vermiculite or similar so they do not dry out and store them in a cool, dark place; take them out the following spring and wash them thoroughly once more before sowing.
It dislikes being transplanted somewhat.
It prefers fertile, well-drained soil in partial shade.
It tolerates shade, but golden-leaved and variegated cultivars lose leaf color if the site is too dark.
Avoid places exposed to strong afternoon sun.
For potted plants, and for plants in the ground less than 2 years after planting, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; for established plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
Apply organic fertilizer around the plant as fertilizer in winter.
Pests and diseases include sooty mold, scarab beetles, bagworms (Minoga) and scale insects.

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