Introduction

This broad, sweeping, conical-shaped evergreen has graceful, flattened, fern-like branchlets that gently droop at branch tips. Beautiful, shiny, new, golden-yellow foliage matures to green throughout the interior of the tree, but some random yellow highlights are still obvious in clustered sprays at branch ends, giving the trees a wonderful two-toned effect. Cripps golden hinoki falsecypress reaches 50 to 75 feet in height with a spread of 20 to 30 feet, and has attractive, shredding, reddish-brown bark that peels off in long narrow strips.

General Information

Scientific name: Chamaecyparis obtusa

Pronunciation: kam-eh-SIP-uh-riss ob-TOO-suh

Common name(s): 'Cripps golden' hinoki falsecypress

Family: Cupressaceae

USDA hardiness zones: 4A through 8A (Fig. 2)

Origin: not native to North America

Invasive potential: little invasive potential

Uses: screen; bonsai; specimen

Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the tree

Description

Height: 50 to 75 feet

Spread: 20 to 30 feet

Crown uniformity: symmetrical

Crown shape: spreading, pyramidal

Crown density: dense

Growth rate: moderate

Texture: fine

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: opposite/subopposite

Leaf type: simple

Leaf margin: entire

Leaf shape: scale-like

Leaf venation: none, or difficult to see

Leaf type and persistence: evergreen

Leaf blade length: less than 2 inches

Leaf color: yellow

Fall color: no color change

Fall characteristic: not showy

Flower

Flower color: yellow

Flower characteristics: not showy

Fruit

Fruit shape: round, cone

Fruit length: less than .5 inch

Fruit covering: dry or hard

Fruit color: brown

Fruit characteristics: does not attract wildlife; not showy; fruit/leaves not a litter problem

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: branches droop; showy; typically one trunk; thorns

Pruning requirement: little required

Breakage: resistant

Current year twig color: green, brown

Current year twig thickness: thin

Wood specific gravity: unknown

Culture

Light requirement: full sun, partial sun, or partial shade

Soil tolerances: clay; sand; loam; acidic; well-drained

Drought tolerance: moderate

Aerosol salt tolerance: unknown

Other

Roots: not a problem

Winter interest: no

Outstanding tree: no

Ozone sensitivity: unknown

Verticillium wilt susceptibility: resistant

Pest resistance: free of serious pests and diseases

Use and Management

Cripps golden hinoki falsecypress should be grown in partial sun in the South on moist, well-drained soil, in areas of moderate to high humidity, and preferably where the trees can be protected from harsh winds. Somewhat picky and probably more of a novelty than a staple landscape plant. Coloration is not as pronounced when grown in partial shade.

Propagation is by cuttings.

Pests and Diseases

No pests or diseases are of major concern.