Lawson’s cypress: properties, care and the most beautiful varieties

The hardy Lawson’s cypress is perfect as an opaque hedge but some varieties also look beautiful as lone-standing plants and in containers.

Primarily as a hedge plant, Lawson’s cypresses (Chamaecyparis) enjoy great popularity because their robustness makes them very easy to care for. The evergreen conifer tree delights with an amazing variety of species and needles in different shades of green. In the following article, we will introduce the Lawoson’s cypress and give tips on care and the most beautiful varieties.

Lawson’s cypress: origin and characteristics

Lawson’s cypresses are mainly found in North America and East Asia. The cypress family (Cupressaceae) comprises around 142 species, which can be divided into several subfamilies. The Mediterranean cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) is probably the best known of all cypresses. Sometimes, Lawson’s cypress is simply called “cypress”, which unfortunately often leads to misunderstandings because the demands on the habitat and care of the conifers can be very different. Lawson’s cypress is available in a wide variety of shapes such as columnar or conical forms as well as hedge plants, grave plants or varieties for heather and rock gardens. It has strongly flattened branches that are covered with scale-like, blue-green needles. The cones are about the size of peas, rounded and, depending on the variety, have rather inclined or strongly overhanging shoot tips. As Lawson’s cypress is monoecious, it bears both purely male and purely female flowers.

The most beautiful varieties: Lawson cypress and more

Only a few species of Lawson’s cypress are suitable for gardens. These include Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, the Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) and the Sawara cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera). There is also the species Chamaecyparis nootkatensis, which, strictly speaking, belongs to the Callitropsis genus but is often still listed under the name Chamaecyparis. Depending on the variety, Lawson’s cypresses differ in height, shape and needle colour. In the following, we present the most beautiful varieties of Lawson’s cypress:

• Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Alumigold’: Ideal as a hedge plant, creating an opaque and compact hedge with yellow needles. It grows to around 300 – 800 cm tall and 150 – 300 cm wide. As a hedge plant, the yellow Lawson’s cypress requires a planting distance of about 50 – 100 cm.
• Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Columnaris’: The ‘Columnaris’ Lawson’s cypress stands out with its blue needles. It reaches a height of about 0.5 – 1 metre and has a columnar, upright growth.

• Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Minima Glauca’: This cushion-shaped and compact, small shrub adorns itself with green to blue-green needles. The ‘Minima Glauca’ Lawson’s cypress grows around 80 – 120 cm tall.

• Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Chirimen’: This beautiful dwarf form of the Lawson’s cypress is also called Hinoki cypress, has dark green needles and compact, rounded growth. The name ‘Chirimen’ refers to the creped fabric from which traditional kimonos are made. The needles of this variety are shorter, the shoots twisted, irregular and with short side shoots that resemble a cat tail. With a maximum height of 1.5 m, Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Chirimen’ is excellent for containers and is used as an extravagant eye-catcher.
• Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Crippsii’: The needles of this shell cypress are golden yellow in colour. It reaches a height of about 3 – 4.5 m and has a pyramidal growth habit.
• Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Flabelliformis’: This dwarf form of the shell cypress has light green needles and grows to a compact height of about 15 cm.

• Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Sungold’: This cultivar has yellow-green, graceful and overhanging branches. It reaches a height of about 1m, grows densely and becomes twice as wide as it is tall.

• Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Boulevard’: This cultivar is also known as Sawara cypress because it bears beautiful, silvery-blue needles in summer and a grey-blue needle coat in winter. It reaches a height of about 3 m and has a conical growth with overhanging branches.

Planting Lawson’s cypress

The ideal location for planting Lawson’s cypress is a sunny spot sheltered from the wind. In partial shade, the intensity of the needle colour decreases. Lawson’s cypress should ideally be planted in fresh to moist, moderately nutrient-rich to rich, loamy, humusy, cool soil with a relatively neutral pH. Lawson’s cypress does not tolerate drought very well. If the site may dry out, install a drip tube when planting. A place sheltered from the wind also protects against dry air. October is the ideal time for planting. Planted in the autumn months, the plant can form enough new roots until the onset of winter, as temperatures are still mild in autumn and there is plenty of rain. A well-drained soil with plenty of humus is important. Our Plantura Organic All Purpose Compost is ideal as a substrate. The wood fibres contained in the soil make it particularly permeable, structurally stable for a long time, moderately rich in nutrients and contributes to good winter hardiness. The substrate can also be fertilised specifically for the plant.

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Dwarf forms are best suited for potted plants. Upright growing varieties need a container of at least 30 to 50 l capacity. The plant pot must also have sufficient weight to stand stably.

Planting in flower beds

• Dig a planting hole twice as wide and deep as the root ball.
• For heavy, compacted soil, add a drainage layer of gravel or similar into the prepared planting hole.
• Fill about 50% of the planting hole with compost.
• Water the plant thoroughly and remove it from the pot.
• Place the root ball in the hole at a depth of about 40 cm and fill the cavity with a mixture of excavated soil and compost.
• Apply a layer of mulch about 5 – 15 cm thick and install a drip hose if required.

Planting in pots

• Choose the size of the container according to the growth habit, making sure there is a water drainage hole.
• Spread a layer of expanded clay on the bottom of the pot for drainage.
• Plant the cypress in structurally stable compost.
• Always keep the substrate moist and avoid waterlogging.

The right care

The robust and evergreen Lawson’s cypress does not require much maintenance. In the next section, you will find out what to look out for when caring for Lawson’s cypress.

Pruning Lawson’s cypress

Proper pruning is of great importance for a dense Lawson’s cypress hedge. However, solitary plants and topiary may also be regularly shaped. Pruning should only take place from the second year of growth. An electric hedge trimmer is suitable for hedges whereas solitary plants can be shaped using an ordinary hedge trimmer. Ideally, pruning should be done from March to June, as this allows the plant to close the cuts before the cold season. Before you start, check for any breeding birds. If bird nests are found, pruning can also take place in September. As a rule, hedges are cut in a box shape but the base should always be slightly wider than the crown.

Pruning should be done at least once a year. Radical pruning is not tolerated, so it is important that the cut does not go all the way into the old wood. Columnar shapes are ideal for allowing enough light to reach the lower parts of the hedge plant. When pruning, it is best to remove about two thirds of the new growth. For dwarf forms of the cypress, annual pruning with pruning shears is sufficient.

Fertilising Lawson’s cypress

It is important to fertilise Lawson’s cypress regularly to ensure vigorous growth. Fertiliser should be applied from March to April. Use a conifer fertiliser with a high magnesium content. This prevents complete magnesium deficiency and thus ensures healthy needle colour. Furthermore, composting and mulching in spring improve the humus content of the soil. Lawson’s cypresses in pots should be given a high-quality granular fertiliser such as our Plantura Rose Food. This not only contains readily available nutrients but also enough magnesium for healthy and strong growth. For short periods in a pot, our Plantura Liquid Houseplant Food ensures optimum nutrient utilisation of the substrate and supports the roots of the cypress with living microorganisms.

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Cypress tree is turning brown: What can be done? Lawson’s cypresses will turn brown if the site is unsuitable, too shady or damp. However, excessively deep pruning combined with strong sunlight, heat, air or root dryness can also lead to brown discolouration. Harmful organisms such as fungi Pestalotia funerea, Pseudocercospora thujina or the larvae of the thuja mining moth (Argyresthia thuiella) can also cause brown discolouration. To avoid discolouration, you should control these pests and transplant the Lawson’s cypress if the location is not optimal.

Are Lawson’s cypresses hardy?

In flower beds, Lawson’s cypresses are hardy in temperate climates. In locations below hardiness zone 7, where the temperature falls below – 15 °C, Lawson’s cypress needs winter protection in the form of fleece, straw or foliage.

Propagation

Lawson’s cypress can be successfully propagated by sowing. However, this takes time. It is easier to grow Lawson’s cypress from cuttings. Chamaecyparis lawsoniana and Chamaecyparis pisifera can be propagated easily from late summer to mid autumn via cuttings. During this time, however, the Lawson’s cypress cuttings are not yet fully woody and need about 6 to 8 months at a maximum of 20 °C to root. For the latter, soft cuttings are used – lateral offshoots that are torn off the main shoots. In the following, we will show you how best to propagate Lawson’s cypress using cuttings:

• Pull off side shoots and remove the lower needles.
• Length of the cutting: about 10 cm.
• Plant in a pot with compost.
• Cover with transparent film and ventilate regularly.
• Keep soil evenly moist.
• Only plant Lawson’s cypress in the garden if it is over 80 cm tall.

Are Lawson’s cypresses poisonous?

The essential oils and thujone contained in the plant can irritate the skin and mucous membranes upon contact. Lawson’s cypress is therefore poisonous to humans as well as animals such as dogs and cats.

Whether as a hedge plant or in a container, the versatility of Lawson’s cypress is delightful. Read more about the many uses of cypress here.