Sungold False-cypress Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Sungold'
Previously known as:
- Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Sungold'
- Chamaecyparis pisifera var. filifera 'Sungold'
- Phonetic Spelling
- kam-ay-SIP-a-ris pi-SIF-er-a
- Description
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'Sungold' false-cypress is a dwarf, mounding, evergreen shrub in the cypress family (Cupressaceae). The species is native to Japan. This cultivar originated in Canada in the 1960s as a seedling of C. pisifera 'Filifera Aurea.’ It has coarser branching and better resistance to sunburn than its parent.
Aptly named, this dwarf false-cypress has gold-tipped, thread-like foliage on thin weeping branches that does not burn in full sun. Mature leaves are an attractive chartreuse color.
Plant ‘Sungold’ in any well-drained, moist soil in full sun to partial shade. It is slow growing and after 10 years will measure 3 feet tall and 4.5 feet wide but can eventually reach 8 feet tall and 12 feet wide. Prune to maintain the size and shape you desire.
The gold foliage provides year-round interest with its striking color so utilize this shrub in foundation plantings, as a specimen, in the middle to back of a border planting, or in rock gardens.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Somewhat susceptible to bagworms and root rot, and juniper blight. See Clemson's publication on root rot.
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:
- Mountain Ridge Top Garden - North Woods
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Chamaecyparis
- Species:
- pisifera
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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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)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- No fruits
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Thread-like chartreuse to lime green that are gold tipped when young.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Peeling
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Fairy Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Rock Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Specimen
