Yellow-cedar Callitropsis nootkatensis 'Pendula'
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Chamaecyparis nootkatensis 'Pendula'
- Xanthocyparis nootkatensis 'Pendula'
- Phonetic Spelling
- kal-ee-trop-sis noot-kuh-TEN-sis
- Description
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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:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Pyramidal
- Weeping
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- 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)
- 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
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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.
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Flowers:
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Description:
- Inconspicuous separate male and female flowers on the tree.
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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.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Green
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Furrowed
- Bark Description:
- Bark Light Green or Light Gray, Exfoliating or Furrowed.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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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
