White Cypress Chamaecyparis thyoides
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Chamaecyparis henryae
- Chamaecyparis thyoides var. henryae
- Cupressus thyoides L.
- Cupressus thyoides L. ssp. henryae
- Phonetic Spelling
- kam-ee-SIP-a-riss thy-OY-deez
- Description
-
Atlantic white cedar is a woody, needled evergreen tree in the Cupressaceae (cypress) family that may grow 60 to 80 feet tall and 30 to 40 feet wide with a conical form. It is native to the eastern United States. The genus name derives from the Greek word chamai, for dwarf or low to the ground, and kyparissos, for cypress.
Atlantic white cedar prefers sandy, peaty, moist to wet, acidic soil in full sun to part shade and tends to grow on a small mound, with water pooling in the depression surrounding it. In North Carolina it is found in the coastal plain along bogs, streams, swamps, and other wet sites. It tends to be the dominant species in wet forests. Propagate this plant by seed or stem cutting.
Use this plant in wet areas with poor drainage, or along ponds, streams, or boggy sites. Include it in butterfly, pollinator, or rain gardens. It provides cover for wildlife and is a larval host plant for butterflies. Planted in small groups it makes an effective privacy screen.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: It has 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 deer in the winter.
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
Additional video Chamaecyparis 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:
-
- 'Barton'
- 'Ericoides'
6-8 feet tall, leaves red-purple in winter
'Heatherbun'
- 'Rariflora'
Persistent juvenile pale blue-green foliage that turns plum-purple in winter
a.k.a. 'Red Star' 'Shiva'
Feathery blue-green to gray-green foliage that acquires coppery-brown tones in winter var. thyoides
- 'Barton'
- 'Barton', 'Ericoides', 'Heatherbun', 'Rariflora', 'Rubicon', 'Shiva', var. thyoides
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Barton'
- 'Ericoides'
6-8 feet tall, leaves red-purple in winter
'Heatherbun'
- 'Rariflora'
Persistent juvenile pale blue-green foliage that turns plum-purple in winter
a.k.a. 'Red Star' 'Shiva'
Feathery blue-green to gray-green foliage that acquires coppery-brown tones in winter var. thyoides
- 'Barton'
- 'Barton', 'Ericoides', 'Heatherbun', 'Rariflora', 'Rubicon', 'Shiva', var. thyoides
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Chamaecyparis
- Species:
- thyoides
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Wood is used to make shingles, posts and boats.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern U.S.A
- Distribution:
- AL , CT , DE , FL , GA , MA , MD , ME , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , PA , RI , SC , VA
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- This tree provides cover for wildlife during the winter and extreme weather. This plant supports Hessel's Hairstreak (Callophrys hesseli) larvae. The Hessel's Hairstreak butterflies have 1-2 flights. In late May, one flight will occur in the northern states of New England. In April to July, two flights will occur in the southern states. Deer browse on this plant in the winter.
- Play Value:
- Fragrance
- Screening
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Edibility:
- Edible
- Dimensions:
- Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Conical
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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:
- High Organic Matter
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- It produces yellow pollen-bearing cones which are found at the stem ends. Its seed-bearing cones form in clusters, emerging purple but maturing to brown. They are 1/4" in diameter and have a crumpled appearance.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- The Atlantic White Cedar has red-yellow male flowers and small green female flowers that mature in the spring.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Prickly
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Acicular
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The scale-like adult leaves and needle-like juvenile leaves are a soft green to blue-green with conspicuous resinous glands. The leaf is flattened, having irregular, overlapping sprays in dense bunches with sharp, pointed tips. Each scale is roughly 1/8" long.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Peeling
- Ridges
- Bark Description:
- The light reddish-brown bark is fibrous with intersection flat ridges, which sometimes spiral along the stem. The bark easily peels off in strips.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Description:
- Branchlets are brown, terete or rhombic in cross-section, in fan-shaped sprays, covered in leaves
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pond
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Screen/Privacy
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
