4. Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden

China Fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata 'Glauca')

China fir, Henan, China. Photo: Dr. Zhang.

The rot- and insect-resistant pale yellow wood of Cunninghamia lanceolata 'Glauca' is used for everything from lampposts to houses, making it the most important timber tree in China. In a forest setting, China firs can reach 150 feet in height, but when cultivated on timber plantations, they tend to cap out at around 70 feet. Don't get too close to the China fir's bluegreen needles—they are painfully sharp.

Notable Neighbors:

• 4A. American beech (Fagus grandifolia)
• 4B. Eastern white pine grove (Pinus strobus)
• 4C. China fir
  (Cunninghamia lanceolata 'Glauca')
• 4D. Stinking cedar (Torreya taxifolia)
• 4E. Katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum)