14 Hiba

Scientific Name – Thujopsis dolabrata

Native to Japan, this tree is commonly found in Ireland and in large gardens along the west coast of the UK. It has dark red – brown bark that sheds in fine strips or strings that may be grey or pale brown and look as if they were scratched off the tree by a cat.

Two growth patterns are to be found. The first is a narrow, single stemmed tree with a few short branches and thick foliage while the second is a broadly conical with a central stem surrounded by 20 – 40 similar stems with the interior ones equal to the central stem and devoid of branches for 4m. All stems are straight and cylindrical with spreading foliage that is bright, rich or yellowish green. Hiba are very slow growing trees with most only adding a few cm per year and the best growing by 35cm to reach a maximum height of 20 to 25m.

 

The trees listed *Champion are considered to be among the finest of their species to be found in Europe