Chamaecyparis thyoides 'Shiva'
- Phonetic Spelling
- kam-ay-SIP-a-ris thy-OY-deez
- Description
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'Shiva' white cypress is a woody, needled evergreen tree or shrub in the Cupressaceae (cypress family). It is a semi-dwarf pyramidal form of Atlantic white cypress that slowly grows to 5 to 8 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide. The genus name derives from the Greek word chamai, for dwarf or low to the ground, and kyparissos, for cypress.
It requires full sun to partial shade and moist, fertile soil with good drainage. However, it tolerates soil that is occasionally wet. Shelter it from strong winds. Propagate it by grafting or root cutting.
“Shiva’ maintains a central leader (main trunk) and has feathery blue-green to gray-green foliage that acquires coppery-brown tones in winter. Be aware that it may brown in the center.
Use it in foundation plantings, rain gardens, hedges, or lawns.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. It does have some susceptibility to juniper blight, root rot, and certain insect pests such as bagworms. See Clemson's publication on root rot. This tree is frequently damaged by white tailed deer.
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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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Chamaecyparis
- Species:
- thyoides
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Root Cutting
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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 Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- Forms non-showy cones
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Flowers:
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Short, needle-like leaves with feathery, blue-green foliage that turns brownish in winter.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Landscape Theme:
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
