Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Gracilis'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ka-may-sy-PAR-is ob-TOO-sah gra-SILL-is
- Description
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Slender Hinoki false cypress is a needled evergreen tree in the Cupressaceae (cypress) family. This tree grows more compact and fuller than the genus in a pyramidal to a conical shape with short spreading and irregularly arranged branches. It grows slowly and will reach 6 feet in 10 years with a 3-4 foot spread. Latin for gracilis translates to "graceful."
Hinoki cypress will grow best in full sun but tolerates light to dappled shade. It will adapt to most soil types except wet poorly drained ones. Keep the soil moist the first year and once established the tree is fairly drought tolerant. It needs little to no pruning except to remove damaged branches. This tree prefers some protection from the wind.
This graceful tree makes a nice accent or specimen tree, a corner of the house plant or planted in small groups. It can also be grown in containers.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Some susceptibility to juniper blight, root rot and bagworms.
VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
- Profile Video:
- 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:
- Chamaecyparis
- Species:
- obtusa
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Taiwan and Japan
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Conical
- Erect
- Irregular
- Open
- Pyramidal
- 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
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 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
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Small round woody seed cones on short stalks that look like little volleyballs. Green maturing to brown.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- White
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Short green needles closely appressed to the branch. The branchlets are in flat fan shapes. The underside of the needles have Y-shaped stomal bands
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Bark:
- Bark Description:
- Reddish-brown bark
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Lawn
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Foundation Planting
- Small groups
- Specimen
