White Cypress Chamaecyparis thyoides
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- kam-ee-SIP-a-riss thy-OY-deez
- Description
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Chamaecyparis thyoides, also known as Atlantic White Cedar, is an evergreen tree that may grow 60 to 80 feet tall with a diameter of 2 ft. The foliage is scale-like and blue/green in color. The bark is fibrous with intersection flat ridges, which sometimes spiral along the stem. It is native to freshwater swamps, bogs, streams, and wet woods along the Atlantic coast from Maine to Florida and along the Gulf coast from Florida to Mississippi, often growing in "glades" of the same species. It is sometimes known as "juniper" in local coastal areas.
The Atlantic White Cedar is easily grown in average, moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. It performs best in full sun and thrives in moist, fertile, peaty-sandy soils. It tolerates some wet soils. Keep this tree sheltered from strong winds. Pruning is rarely needed.
The mature bark of the Atlantic White Cedar is reddish brown. The fine-grained, slightly fragrant wood has excellent resistance to decay and has been used for a number of purposes including boat construction, shingles and posts.
This plant has a high flammability rating and should not be planted within the defensible space of your home. Select plants with a low flammability rating for the sites nearest your home.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: With the Atlantic White Cedar there are no serious insect or disease problems. It does have some susceptibility to juniper blight, root rot and certain insect pests such as bagworms. This tree is frequently damaged by white tailed deer.
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Barton'
- 'Rariflora'
a.k.a. 'Red Star' 'Shiva'
- 'Barton'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Barton'
- 'Rariflora'
a.k.a. 'Red Star' 'Shiva'
- 'Barton'
- Tags:
-
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Chamaecyparis
- Species:
- thyoides
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern U.S.A
- Fire Risk Rating:
- high flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- This tree provides cover for wildlife during the winter and extreme weather. It is also a larval plant for butterflies. Deer browse on this plant in the winter. The leaves are aromatic.
- 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
- 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 Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3b, 3a, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7b, 7a, 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 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:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Prickly
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- 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 of the Atlantic White Cedar are a soft blue green with white markings. 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:
- 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 Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pond
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Native Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Diseases
- Wet Soil
