Cypress Chamaecyparis
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Cypress:
- Phonetic Spelling
- kam-ee-SIP-a-riss
- Description
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False-cypress is a member of the cypress family (Cupressaceae). It is an evergreen conifer native to the North American coasts and temperate East Asia. The genus name derives from the Greek words chamai, for "dwarf or low to the ground" and kuparissos, for "cypress." This is a group of medium to large trees from 50 to 90 feet tall in the landscape, or even taller in the wild.
These trees are low maintenance and tolerate full sun to part shade, preferably in moist, well-drained soil. Moderate pruning will help maintain its conical form and ethically pleasing shape. They will tolerate drought and moderate amounts of salt as well as browsing by deer and rabbits. Cuttings may be rooted in late summer for propagation.
Cypress trees provide vertical interest to the landscape as a handsome specimen and are sometimes grouped in hedges. In the home landscape, compact or dwarf cultivars are popular as small accents or specimen trees, providing winter interest. Use cypress trees in formal English, or Asian gardens, or along riparian areas.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Minor insect pests include bagworms, witches' broom, spindle burl gall. This species has some susceptibility to juniper blight (Phomopsis juniperovora) and 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:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- C. obtusa, C. pisifera, C. thyoides
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- C. obtusa, C. pisifera, C. thyoides
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Chamaecyparis
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Root Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- East & West North America, Japan, Laos, Taiwan, Viet Nam
- Distribution:
- Introduced to Europe
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 99 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Conical
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- 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)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- more than 60 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- No true fruit– female seed-bearing cones are green when immature turning to brown.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- No true flowers– the pollen bearing cones are small and often reddish, growing from the branch tips.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- White
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Obtuse
- Ovate
- Rhomboidal
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Scale-like or awl-like leaves arranged around the branches. Many species have white markings on the underside that aid in identification. Branches may lay flat or spiral around. Some cultivars have yellow coloring.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Patchy
- Shredding
- Bark Description:
- Often reddish-brown with either fibrous or blocky bark.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Riparian
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- English Garden
- Water Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Border
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Rabbits
- Salt
