Propagation
Take semi hardwood cuttings from summer to autumn, including a heel from the main branch. Remove a branchlet from the main stem by cutting or tearing and include a piece of stem bark.

Strip lower leaves and wilting tips with a sharp knife then insert the cuttings 25mm (1in) into the media and place in cold frame.

Sow seed when ripe during autumn in pots and place in a cold frame to germinate which may take up to 5 years.
This plant may be grown from layering.

General pruning information
This plant require little pruning as it maintains a compact habit. Prostrate species may be lightly trimmed to contain but avoid cutting back to old wood, as it will not regenerate.


Botanic information
Leaf: There are two types of leaves; tiny ovate scale-like leaves that are appressed along the stem and the light green adult acicular leaves that have a plum tinge at the tips during winter.

Flower: The male flowers are united into an oblong catkin-like cone and the female flowers have up to 8-valvate scales that contain 1 to 2 ovules and appear on a short lateral branch. The male and female flowers appear on different plants (dioecious) during early summer.

Fruit: The rounded cone is persistent on the plant maturing in 2 to 3 years but is not commonly seen under cultivation. The small seed is viable but the plant is normally reproduced vegetatively.