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Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Aurea' is often confused with:
Thuja occidentalis Thuja occidentalis
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Boulevard' Form
Cotinus coggygria Cotinus coggyria
Salvia rosmarinus Rosmarinus officinalis

Golden Threadleaf Chamaecyparis Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Aurea'

Phonetic Spelling
kam-ay-SIP-a-ris pi-SIF-er-a
Description

Golden thread-leaf Sawara false-cypress is a semi-dwarf, evergreen shrub in the cypress family (Cupressaceae) that is broadly cone shaped and slow growing. It often grows to only 6 to 7 feet tall and 3 feet wide after 20 years but, under ideal conditions, can eventually reach 20 feet in height and 7 feet in width. The species is native to Japan, and this cultivar originated as a sport with golden needles found on C. pisifera 'Filifera,' a cultivar with thread-like, drooping shoots. The genus name derives from the Greek words chamai, for dwarf or low to the ground, and kyparissos, for "cypress." The species epithet, pisifera, is Latin meaning “pea-bearing” and refers to the small rounded cones borne by this plant.

The foliage is thread-like and golden yellow on weeping branches. Plant the golden thread-leaf Sawara false-cypress in any moist, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Full sun gives the best color, but the plant can experience sun-scald. 

Use the plant as a specimen or accent tree in the lawn or for color contrast in the landscape. It is also excellent as a hedge or border or for privacy screening. It holds its color well through winter, and the peeling bark adds additional interest in a winter garden. Its small stature also works well in small spaces and rock gardens.

Quick ID Hints:

  • Cone-like growth habit

  • Branches are elongate, thread-like, yellowish

  • Leaves are appressed scales, white glaucous below with age

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No significant problems. 

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

More information on Chamaecyparis pisifera.

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Tags:
#evergreen#full sun tolerant#shrub#showy leaves#pendulous#yellow leaves#accent plant#fast growing#privacy#fantz#exfoliating bark#partial shade tolerant#landscape plant sleuths course#hedge
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#full sun tolerant#shrub#showy leaves#pendulous#yellow leaves#accent plant#fast growing#privacy#fantz#exfoliating bark#partial shade tolerant#landscape plant sleuths course#hedge
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Chamaecyparis
    Species:
    pisifera
    Family:
    Cupressaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Dimensions:
    Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Broad
    Conical
    Dense
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
    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 Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Fruit Description:
    No true fruit -female seed-bearing cones are green when immature turning to brown.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Flower Description:
    No true flowers - the pollen bearing cones are small and often reddish, growing from the branch tips.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Needles
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Scale-like, golden yellow, thread-like needles wrapped around pendulous branchlets. The best color is on the south side of the bush. The north or shaded sides of the plant are often yellow-green or green. Intermediate, subappressed, narrow, acute and spinose, becoming scale-like, 2-3 mm long, appressed to twig in pairs and decussate, each pair overlapping adjacent pair above, acute, yellowish becoming green to brown with age, lower surface developing whitish-glaucous markings below on lateral scales resembling bow ties or butterfly wings.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Red/Burgundy
    Surface/Attachment:
    Exfoliating
    Peeling
    Bark Description:
    Reddish-brown peeling bark on mature branches.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Elongate, exhibiting aspical growth, threadlike with little lateral branching in juvenile growth of twigs.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Landscape Theme:
    Asian Garden
    Children's Garden
    Nighttime Garden
    Rock Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Hedge
    Screen/Privacy
    Specimen
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Heat