Keteleeria davidiana (04/04/2015, Kyoto Botanic Garden, Kyoto, Japan)
Position: Full sun to partial shade
Flowering period: Spring
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 40m
Eventual Spread: 25m
Hardiness: 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
Family: Pinaceae
Keteleeria davidiana is an evergreen confer tree with a broad upright habit. Its leathery dark green leaves are needle like, flattened, up to 6cm long and 4mm broad. Its trunk may achieve a diameter of up to 2m. Its dull brown/ gray bark is fissured and flaking. Its flowers are monoecious. Its erect fruit are light brown ovoid cones, up to 20cm long and 5cm broad.
Keteleeria davidiana Leaf (04/04/2015, Kyoto Botanic Garden, Kyoto, Japan)
Keteleeria davidiana, commonly known as Chinese Keteleeria, is native to Taiwan, south east China and north Vietnam. In its native habitat it grows in mixed woodland at an elevation of 200m – 1500m in a continental type climate. Keteleeria davidiana is synonymous with Pseudotsuga davidiana.
The etymological root of the binomial name Keteleeria is named after Jean Baptiste Keteleer (1813 – 1903), a French nurseryman. Davidiana is named after Father Armand David (1826 – 1900), a french missionary and naturalist.
Keteleeria davidiana Bark (04/04/2015, Kyoto Botanic Garden, Kyoto, Japan)
The landscape architect may find Keteleeria davidiana useful as an unusual evergreen specimen tree. Once established this tree is drought tollerant. It requires warm summers to flourish.
Ecologically, Keteleeria davidiana seeds are attractive to some birds and mammals.
Keteleeria davidiana prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Keteleeria davidiana requires little maintenance.
Landscape Architecture
