Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- kam-ay-SIP-a-ris ob-TOO-sa
- Description
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Golden hinoke cypress is a dwarf evergreen tree in the Cupressaceae (cypress) family with a broadly conical form. The parent plant is native to Japan. The genus name comes from the Greek words chamai, which means dwarf, and kyparissos, which means cypress tree.
The plant grows in full sun to partial shade on acidic, well-drained, moist loam soil. The golden color will be the most dramatic in full sun. It will tolerate occasional flooding and browsing by deer.
This cultivar has spreading branches and pendant sprays of bright, showy foliage that bring an attractive golden color to winter gardens. The tree grows upright, and the foliage matures to yellow on the interior of the tree with some yellow on the green tips, giving it a two-toned effect.
With its slow to moderate growth rate, it can be used as a specimen tree, in bonsai, and around water gardens, ponds, and streams. Planted in the background of a perennial garden, the golden foliage makes for a beautiful backdrop.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Shade (Medium) Garden - Winter at the NHC Arboretum
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Chamaecyparis
- Species:
- obtusa
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Wildlife Value:
- Deer resistant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Pyramidal
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- No true fruit - female seed-bearing cones are green when immature turning to brown.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No true flowers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Grown for foliage: sprays of tiny feathery, bright golden-yellow scale-like foliage on frond-like spreading branches; green within the plant; good winter color.
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Bark:
- Surface/Attachment:
- Peeling
- Shredding
- Bark Description:
- Shredding, reddish-brown bark which peels off in long narrow strips.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Pond
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Water Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Insect Pests
