Single trunked, central leader, very erect pyramidal habit. In native habitat, trunks may become 9 ft in diameter. Bark is a cinnamon colored brown. Tree is fast growing with what look like compound foliage but the literature says are simple needle like leaves appearing 2 ranked on branchlets. Foliage is bright green in summer and turns rusty brown in autumn and then goes deciduous.
Flowers are inconspicuous and fruit is a small cone.
Best used in groups are as a background or border. Good street tree. Likes acid well drained moist soils. First describe in 1941 from fossils discovered in Japan. That same year a living specimen was discovered in China.