| General Description | Slow growing dwarf retaining central main trunk, with flat, semi obtuse top in early growth stages. Produces very small, irregular scales along mostly flat stems. |
| ID Characteristic | Strange semi dense growth form exuding both vertically and horizontally twisting foliage along slightly drooped, pendulous branches. Also has distinct silver leaf scale margins, common with most C. obtusa cultivars. |
| Shape | Pyramidal, somewhat obtuse when young, loosely compact with horizontal uneven sprays. |
| Landscape | Can be effectively utilized in a Japanese style rock garden, as well as a focal point around ponds and pools. Kosteri can also be added to small patio container gardens and used in mixed border applications, as well as general city conditions. |
| Propagation | Take earlier softwood cuttings between late June and September and root with bottom heat, and humidity of at least 73%. Can also be grafted from scion in late winter to early spring time, but does not retain same vigor and form. As cones are rarely produced, kosteri is usually not propagated from seed. |
| Cultivation | Does well when protected from harsh dry winds. Likes regular watering during early stages of growth, but will withstand drought when mature. Will thrive if given an annual dose of nitrogen rich fertilizer in early autumn. Prefers well drained, moist, cool, slightly acidic to neutral soils. Will perform best in full sun, but can withstand moderate to partial shade. Does not respond well to pruning. |
| Pests | Tolerant of most pests. Somewhat prone to tip blight, spuce mites, and juniper scale. Susceptible to winter burn. |
| Habitat | Submontane evergreen forests of Japan. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Bright red/orange brown furrowed to form trench like form. Thin and peeling, and delicate when young. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Very small shoots growing roughly 1-3 mm in size, insignificant, producing a dull grayish green/ orange like brown colour. |
| Leaf Description | Bright mossy green, closely packed, small scale like, diamond shaped, netted, odorous and resinous, 2 mm. Can be somewhat rough/sharp to the touch. |
| Flower Description | Cultivar rarely produces flowers. Those that do, produce small insignificant dull yellow diacious flowers on seperate branches. |
| Fruit Description | Will rarely produce cones. Those that do exibit very small, globose male cones, and more slender elongated female cones of grey colour averaging less then 2 cm with 2 to 8 wings. |
| Colour Description | Much lighter shade of green than original C. obtusa. Retains silver leaf undersides. Bark has an interesting orange reddish tinge. Leaves produce redish bronze tinge in the winter months. |
| Texture Description | Medium textured, scales somewhat prickly and waxy. Bark is thin, smooth and peeling. |
