Hinoki Cypress

Chamaecyparis obtusa (ka-may-sy-PAR-is ob-TOO-sah ver-DOH-nee)

Family: Cupressaceae Unknown Shrub (3-15 ft)

Shrub (3-15 ft)Unknown

''Verdoni'' or verdon hinoki cypress is a cultivar in the Cupressaceae (cypress) family and is native to Japan This cultivar is dense, upright, conical, with somewhat contorted form. It is slow growing and will take10 years to reach 5 to 6 feet tal with its ultimate size possibly reaching 8 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide.The genus name derives from the Greek word chamai , for dwarf or low to the ground, and kyparisso s, for cypress. This cypress prefers moist, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. In North Carolina protect it from afternoon sun. It is resistant to pollution. Verdon hikoki cypress has yellow-green, fan-shaped foliage that holds the color well. Use it as a foundation plant, as a specimen in a lawn or alongside a patio, or in shrub borders, hedges, or as a privacy screen. It is a great addition to Asian, rock, or winter gardens, and it can also be grown in a container. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Somewhat susceptible to bagworms, root rot, and juniper blight. See Clemson's publication on root rot . VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Chamaecyparis obtusa .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 35 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)

See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Fills a similar niche Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Lutea' Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Boulevard' Salvia rosmarinus

Native alternatives Juniperus communis var. depressa

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions

Plant type: Shrub
Life cycle: Woody
USDA zones: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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
Available space: 3 feet-6 feet
NC region: Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size: Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate: Slow
Maintenance: Low
Canopy layer: 3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)

Form & Appearance

Habit / form: Conical; Erect
Foliage: Needled Evergreen
Leaf color: Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type: Needles
Hairs present: No
Leaf detail: Rich yellow-green scale-like foliage; does not burn in sun
Flower form: Insignificant
Flower detail: No true flowers - the pollen bearing cones are small and often reddish, growing from the branch tips.
Fruit detail: No true fruit - female seed-bearing cones are green when immature turning to brown with the male being orange brown.

Wildlife & Ecology

Native status: Unknown

Landscape Use

Landscape location: Container; Lawn; Patio
Landscape theme: Asian Garden; Rock Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature: Accent; Border; Foundation Planting; Hedge; Screen/Privacy; Specimen
Garden tags: #evergreen #foundation planting #specimen #needled evergreen #full sun tolerant #winter interest #spring interest #summer interest #fall interest #container plant #rock garden #Asian garden #yellow needles #hedge #patio #privacy #shrub border #screen

Problems & Resistance

Insect problems: Bagworms in Ornamental Landscapes
Resistant to: Pollution

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.

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