Common Name: Chinese Fir

General Information

Cunninghamia lanceolata is an evergreen tree with a pyramidal crown; it can grow up to 50 metres tall[]. The bole can be up to 3 metres in diameter[].
The most important single timber crop in China, where it accounts for 20 - 30% of the total commercial timber production and is both harvested from the wild and from plantations. The tree also has minor local medicinal uses. It has been cultivated in China for over 8,000 years and plantations have more recently been established in a number of other countries including Japan, Malaysia, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil and New Zealand[, ]. It is widely used for landscaping in public gardens, along the roads, parks and temples because of its fast growth, beautiful crown shape, and resistance to pests and diseases[].
Cunninghamia lanceolata is very widely distributed and cultivated throughout southern China and adjacent countries. It is very difficult to distinguish between areas where it is naturalized and areas where it is truly indigenous. Throughout its range there is no evidence of decline, The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - southeast China ((Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang).

Habitat

Mixed broad-leaved forests, rocky hillsides and roadsides, 200 - 2800 metres in most temperate areas of China[]. Often forming small, pure stands on red sandstone soils[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Semi-cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Cunninghamia lanceolata is a plant mainly of the warm temperate to subtropical zones, just entering into the tropics. It is found at elevations from near sea level to 2,600 metres[]. It grows best in areas where the mean annual temperature is in the range 16 - 19°c and is fairly frost resistant - mature plants can tolerate temperatures down to about -15°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 900 - 2,350mm[].
Requires a rich warm soil and a sheltered sunny position[, ]. Best growth is obtained on well-drained loamy soils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 5 - 7.5[]. Dislikes soil with free lime otherwise the pH is unimportant[].
Young trees can make quite rapid growth in height, up to 60cm a year once they have attained more than 1 metre in height[]. Before reaching the height of 1 metre, however, they are liable to be killed by frost[].
Trees commence coning and producing viable seeds when they are around 6 - 8 years old[, ].
There are trees 25 metres tall in Cornwall and 18 metres tall in Kent[, ].
This is the main re-forestation tree in China[, ]. The most important fast-growing timber tree of the warm regions south of the Chang Jiang valley of China[].
Unlike most conifers, this species can be coppiced, and it also resprouts from the roots if cut down[, ].
The bruised foliage emits a delicious resinous aroma[].
This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Carminative.
A decoction of the wood is used internally in the treatment of varnish poisoning (from species of Rhus), chronic ulcers, hernia etc[, , ].
The decoction of the wood is used as a bath for smelly feet[].

An essential oil from the plant is used to treat bruises, pain, rheumatism and wounds[, ].

The ash of the bark is used to treat burns, scalds and wounds[, ].

A decoction of the cone is used in the treatment of coughs[, ].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is suitable for reforestation schemes in subtropical evergreen, coniferous and mixed broad-leaved forests[, ].
It is a suitable species for agroforestry systems in China as it is usually intercropped with a number of crops such as maize, beans, wheat, Chinese sorghum, buckwheat, potato, 'ground chestnut' (Arachis hypogaea), tobacco and upland rice; or with other tree species such as the tung oil tree (Aleurites fordii), tea and Litsea cubeba. The interplanting is important not only to increase the income of farmers during early stages of plantations but also to avoid the land degradation that results from continuous cropping of this tree[].

Other Uses

The bark is a source of tannins[].

The branches produce an essential oil that is used in the perfume industry. Cedrol, pinene, phellandrene, citrene, terpinol, thujenol, cadinol and borneol are the main constituents of the oil[].

The pale yellow to white, fragrant wood is uniform-textured; straight-grained; light in weight; and durable, though it rots easily if it is continually wet. It is easily worked and resists insect and termite damage. It is used in construction, ship building etc wherever great strength is required. Older and larger branches are used in turnery[, , , , ].
A good quality fuel and a charcoal can be made from the wood[, ].

Propagation

Seed - sow late winter in a greenhouse[]. If the seed does not germinate within 8 weeks then 3 weeks cold stratification may speed up the process[]. Germination usually takes place in 1 - 6 months at 18°c[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Vegetative propagation of this species is relatively easy, and at one time most planting stock was produced from coppices from basal stumps after felling[]. Nursery seedlings, however, have faster early growth and better survival than coppice sprouts. Since the 1980s, techniques have been developed to produce planting stock from root cuttings[]. The cuttings are collected from the root collar when they reach a height of about 10 cm and placed in rooting beds. These cuttings have a survival rate of 90 - 95% and the quality is similar to that of seedling
stocks[].
Cuttings from lateral shoots are not suitable[].
Division of suckers[].