Trees Growing at Our Pleasant Hill Oregon Home

Chinese Fir - Cunningham Fir

Cunninghamia lanceolata An evergreen conifer, native to China, where it plays a major role in forestry. The Chinese call it Namu and it is prominently used in the palaces in Beijing as the major columns lacquered black. It grows extensively in Sichuan. Named after James Cunningham, who discovered it in 1701, and was the first European plant-hunter to visit China. Grows to a height of 150 feet (45m). Male and female flowers are grown separately on the same tree. Males are in large clusters of shoots, and shed pollen Females are also at tips of shoots and are about 1/2 inch across. Cones are up to 1 3/4 inch across. We have about six of these around our house. Our previous house had a large one about 100-foot high and the ones here are seedlings from that tree. By 2006 it was almost 10 feet high. Bernice, shown alongside the tree stands 5 foot 2 inches.