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Alaska-cedar Callitropsis nootkatensis 'Pendula'

Previously known as:

  • Chamaecyparis nootkatensis 'Pendula'
  • Xanthocyparis nootkatensis 'Pendula'
Phonetic Spelling
kal-ee-trop-sis noot-kuh-TEN-sis
Description

Nootka Cypress was introduced to the nursery trade by A. van Leeuwen Nursery, The Netherlands in the early 1880s.   It has been sold commercially in North America since 1907. It is a native of the coast of Alaska and Washington.  

It is a needled evergreen tree in the cypress family native to the Pacific coast from Alaska to northern California. It has graceful pendulous branches that up sweep at the ends and flattened sprays of gray-green or blue-green foliage. In the wild, it can reach heights of up to 90 feet, however cultivated trees will top out at 20 to 35 feet tall and 8 to 12 feet wide. The bark on mature trees will exfoliate.

Grow in average moist soils in full sun to partial shade, particularly in warmer climates.  Use as a specimen tree or along pond and stream edges in the mountainous areas of NC.  It is moderately drought tolerant.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to beetle borers and spider mites, phytophthora, root rot, and rust.  Occasional aphid issues.  Blight can be a problem in young nursery plants as well as old landscape plants.  

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#weeping#evergreen#conifer#pendulous#winter interest#wind tolerant#needled evergreen#deer resistant#winter garden#high humidity#tree
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#weeping#evergreen#conifer#pendulous#winter interest#wind tolerant#needled evergreen#deer resistant#winter garden#high humidity#tree
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Callitropsis
    Species:
    nootkatensis
    Family:
    Cupressaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Use as a focal point in the landscape.
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Grafting
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Alaska south to northern California
    Wildlife Value:
    Bears can strip the bark off the tree in the springtime in order to feed on the sweet sap. Often used as cover for birds and small mammals.
    Play Value:
    Buffer
    Easy to Grow
    Screening
    Wildlife Cover/Habitat
    Dimensions:
    Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Pyramidal
    Weeping
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Fine
  • 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)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    12-24 feet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Small hard green cones ripen in the tree's second year and ripen in the fall. Each have a protruding, hook-like erect tip.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Flower Description:
    Inconspicuous separate male and female flowers on the tree.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Soft
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Needles
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Opposite
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Scale-like leaves in flat fans in 4 rows of alternating opposite pairs. They have an unpleasant smell when bruised or crushed.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Green
    Light Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Exfoliating
    Furrowed
    Bark Description:
    Bark Light Green or Light Gray, Exfoliating or Furrowed.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Patio
    Pond
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Cottage Garden
    Rain Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Small Mammals
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Wet Soil