Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Plumosa Aurea'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- kam-ay-SIP-a-ris pi-SIF-er-a
- Description
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Plumosa Aurea Sawara Cypress is a very old cultivar of an evergreen shrub that originated in Japan in 1861 and was brought over to England. It has young needled foliage that is an attractive bronze-yellow to a creamy color and gives the plant a fluffy appearance. 'Plumosa Aurea' retains more of the softer colored foliage than other cypresses do. This small shrub will take around ten years to mature to a height of 4 1/2 to 6 feet tall and 4 to 10 feet wide and has an open rounded to conical form.
Plant in rich, moist, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. The best needle color will come from plantings in the full sun.
Its diminutive size makes it a great choice for small spaces like courtyards or patio gardens. It works well planted in containers or in shrub borders and its soft needles will make you want it planted close so you can enjoy its texture. To maintain a particular shape this plant tolerates hedge trimming or shearing well. Mulch the plant to keep the root zone cool and moist.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect problems. Blight, honey fungus, and Phytophthora root rot are occasional problems.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Chamaecyparis
- Species:
- pisifera
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Conical
- Open
- Rounded
- 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 Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- No true fruits, seed bearing cones and rarely.
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Flowers:
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Description:
- No true flowers, pollen bearing cones.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Needles
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Branchlets with feathery bright yellow needle-like leaves at the tips. Color gets more lime green toward the center of the plant. Needles may take on brown to bronze cast in winter. The needles are soft to the touch.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Lawn
- Patio
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
