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Chamaecyparis obtusa is often confused with:
Platycladus orientalis Platycladus orientalis
Thuja occidentalis Thuja occidentalis
x Hesperotropsis leylandii × Cupressocyparis leylandii
Native alternative(s) for Chamaecyparis obtusa:
Thuja occidentalis Thuja occidentalis
Tsuga canadensis Tsuga canadensis
Tsuga caroliniana Tsuga caroliniana
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Thuja occidentalis Thuja occidentalis
Ilex opaca Ilex opaca
x Hesperotropsis leylandii × Cupressocyparis leylandii

Chamaecyparis obtusa

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
kam-ee-SIP-a-riss ob-TOO-suh
Description

Hinoki Cypress is a large evergreen tree from Japan with a broad, softly pyramidal shape with spreading, horizontal branches. It prefers moist fertile loams but is adaptable to other soils as long as they are well-drained. It does best in full sun but can tolerate some shade and needs protection from the wind.

The flowers are insignificant and the cones are small and orange-brown. This tree is rarely used in landscapes due to the size but there are many cultivars in smaller sizes better suited to home use.

Seed: Cone

Quick ID Hints:

  • Dwarf shrub, sprays fan-shaped, flat
  • Leaves all scale-like
  • Scales glaucous along edges, below appear as X or Y

Slow growing, difficult to transplant, moist, well drained soil preferred, sunny area preferred. 

 

 

Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#sun#wildlife plant#large tree#winter interest#playground#cpp#spreading#needled evergreen#children's garden#screening#fantz#parks
 
Chamaecyparis obtusa
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#sun#wildlife plant#large tree#winter interest#playground#cpp#spreading#needled evergreen#children's garden#screening#fantz#parks
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Chamaecyparis
    Species:
    obtusa
    Family:
    Cupressaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Has been widely used in Japanese architecture.
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Asia
    Play Value:
    Screening
    Dimensions:
    Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Tree
    Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Broad
    Pyramidal
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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 Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Orange
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Description:
    Small 0.5 in. orange-brown cones with 8-10 scales
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Insignificant
    Orange
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    White
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Needles
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Short, closely compressed, green leaves are scale-like in flattened sprays with whitish x-like markings on the underside. Leaves come in 2 scale leaf sizes.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Red/Burgundy
    Surface/Attachment:
    Peeling
    Bark Description:
    Reddish-brown bark will peel on mature trees.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Recreational Play Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Children's Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Specimen