Chamaecyparis pisifera

Falsecypress
 

Mature Size, Growth, Longevity

50-70' tall and only 10-20' wide is a normal landscape size, but may reach 120' in the wild. Pyramidal in shape, with a loose, open growth habit that is quite elegant in youth. Medium growth rate. Lifespan is at least 50-100 years, usually more like 150-200 years in favorable soils and climates.

Native Range

Native to Japan. Introduced into cultivation in 1861.

Flower and Fruit Details

Flowers are monoecious, very small and inconspicuous. Tiny cones, only 1/6-1/4" in size, each with 6-8 scales. Cones are abundant, occurring in close proximity to each other. Cones are short-stalked, green, changing to yellowish-brown.

Leaf and Bark Features

Evergreen: Flattened, overlapping scales are each 1/12-1/8" long. Foliage is soft, dark green on top, with grayish-white lines or "Y's" on the underside. Side branches are composed of flattened foliage in horizontal planes. Foliage occurs in "sprays". Foliage may brown after a hard winter. Notable Bark: Smooth, reddish-brown bark peels off in thin strips, becoming quite ornamental.

Culture and Care

Prefers moist, well-drained acid, organic soil in full sun. Is adaptable to poor soils, dry soils, slightly alkaline soils, compacted soils, heat and drought. Zones 4-8. Few disease or insect problems. Some root rot diseases and aphids.

Strengths, Weaknesses, Other Facts

4-season interest: Spring, summer, fall & winter. This species is very similar to the extinct Eocene Epoch species, Chamaecyparis eureka.

Suggested Uses

Looks best in its youth and early years, since as it becomes a large tree, some of the lower branches start to die. Could be used for screening, mass plantings, or as a park tree. Cultivars are used as accent plants and in rock gardens.

Taxa and Plants of this Species at BCA

The following taxa are (or were) represented in the collections at Boone County Arboretum. Additional taxa may be available in the trade that are not included here.

  • Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Dow Whiting' // Soft Serve™ Falsecypress
    Tree. Compact, narrow upright-columnar to conical habit. Soft, fernlike branches. Graceful branching habit. Foliage is bright green on top, but flecked with silvery-blue "Y's" on the underside. Somewhat deer resistant. Needs full sun to part shade. Average landscape size is 6-10' tall and 5-6' wide. Often used in borders, screening, containers, hedges and as accent or specimen plants. Mulch to prevent drying out. Prefers moist, acid soils. Pollution tolerant. Zone 5(4)-7(8). Shaggy, reddish-brown bark. Foliage stays green through the winter. Densely branched, multi-stemmed shrub to small tree. Fills out well to the ground in youth. Lives 60-100 years.
    BT001717

  • Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Aurea Nana' // Aurea Nana Threadleaf Japanese (Sawara) Falsecypress
    Tree. A dwarf tree/large shrub with consistently gold foliage; quite striking. Forms a dense mound or a broad cone of drooping, stringy, fine-textured branches. 6-15' tall and 3-6' wide. Good heat tolerance to Zone 7. Zone 4-7. Full sun to part shade. Drought-tolerant, but prefers moist, fertile soils. Avoid low, wet, poorly-drained sites and heavy shade. Shelter from strong winds. Pruning not normally needed. Slow-growing, to only 6' in 20 years. Fruits are only on mature plants. Makes a good accent plant or for use in foundation plantings. Peeling, reddish-brown bark on trunk and larger branches. Susceptible to juniper blight, root rot and bagworms.
    BT004670 - BT004680 - BT004700

  • Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Sungold' // Dwarf Golden Threadleaf Falsecypress
    Shrub. Compact, mounded to pyramidal habit. New foliage is reliably golden yellow, even in full sun. Makes a good specimen or mop-headed accent plant. Good in urban gardens and sunny woodland gardens, plus Asian gardens and Zen gardens. Looks good in a small hedge or at the back of a border. Needs full sun. Keep moist; mulch. Tolerates brief drought, but is not long-term drought-tolerant. Slowly grows to 5-6' tall and 7-8' wide. Looks good year-round. Somewhat deer-resistant. Prefers well-drained soil. Zone 4-8. Seldom needs pruning.
    Bed 8

  • Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Gold Mop' // Gold Mop Falsecypress
    Shrub. Compact; grows 3-5' tall and 4-7' wide. Slow growth rate. Heat-tolerant. Inconspicuous flowers. Inconspicuous fruits. Evergreen shrub with cords of scaly, stringy, golden yellow foliage. Used as a focal point specimen or a foundation shrub. Good for borders, containers or rock gardens. Exfoliating bark in thin reddish-brown strips, though not usually seen since plants are normally branched to the ground. Adaptable to a range of soils, but prefers moist, well-drained soil. Best in part sun; siting in full sun (thereby unprotected) makes it prone to winter burn. Zones 4-8. Few disease or pest problems. Species native to Japan. Golden-yellow color usually stays that way year-round, even if sited in full sun.
    Bed 165 - Bed 181