True and False Cypress (Chamaecyparis/Cupressus/Cupressocyparis)

Chamaecyparis

Blue Surprise Lawson Cypress

Chamaecyparis lawsonia ‘Blue Surprise’

Zone: 6

6′ x 2′

Full sun

A compact, slow growing columnar conifer with delicate silvery-blue new growth.

Ellwood’s Pygmy Lawson Cypress

Chamaecyparis lawsonia ‘Ellwoods Pygmy’

Zone: 5

3′ x 1′

Full sun

A dwarf, compact, conifer, growing only 2-4″ a year, with beautiful blue new growth.

Golden Surprise Lawson Cypress

Chamaecyparis lawsonia ‘Golden Surprise’

Zone: 5

6′ x 2′

Full sun

Forms an upright, golden column with bright yellow new growth. Slow grower, only growing 2-4″ per year

Snow White Lawson Cypress

Chamaecyparis lawsonia ‘Snow White’

Zone: 5

6′ x 1.5′

Full sun

A broadly conical plant with blue foliage that emerges in the spring tipped with white.

Wissell’s Saguaro False Cypress

Chamaecyparis lawsonia ‘Wissel’s Saguaro’

Zone: 4

6′ x 2′

Full sun

Slow growing with gorgeous steel blue foliage and a very unique habit. Columnar, and a bit twisty, several “arms” will develop over time and give it a familiar saguaro cactus look

Blue Weeping Alaskan Cedar

Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Glauca Pendula’ (syn. Callitropis nootkatensis ‘Glauca Pendula’)

Zone: 4

35′ x 10′

Full sun

A fast growing,  upright tree with lovely, very pendulous branchlets of blue-green.

Green Arrow Alaskan Cedar

Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Green Arrow’ (syn. Callitropis nootkatensis ‘Green Arrow’)

Zone: 4

30′ x 3′

Full sun

Extremely narrow growth habit forms an exclamation point in the garden. Its side branches hang closely against the trunk, especially as they mature.

Weeping Alaskan Cedar

Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’ (syn. Callitropis nootkatensis ‘Pendula)

Zone: 5

30′ x 10′

Full sun

Medium to large size pyramidal tree with drooping branchlets bearing dark gray-green foliage that drapes from spreading and upcurved branches.

Golden Hinoki Cypress

Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Aurea’

Zone: 5

20′ x 15′

Full to part sun

Forms a broadly, pyramidal, upright tree with spreading, graceful branches. The outer sprays, and new foliage are a warm, rich yellow, while interior and older foliage provide contrast with medium green foliage.

Yellow Hinoki Cypress

Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Confucius’

Zone: 5

12′ x 8′

Full to part sun

Dwarf conifer with bright lemon-yellow coloring on the outer most foliage that contrasts beautifully with its emerald green interior.

Fernspray Gold Hinoki Cypress

Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Fernspray’

Zone: 4

6′ x 4′

Full to part sun

Dwarf conifer with bright yellow foliage. Each branch tapers to a point just like a fern.

Slender Hinoki Cypress

Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Gracillis’

Zone: 4

15′ x 8′

Full to part sun

Becomes a narrow pillar with lovely layered fan-like branches densely radiating from the main trunk. Foliage takes on a bronzy color in the fall.

Tempelhof Hinoki Cypress

Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Tempelhof’

Zone: 5

8′ x 4′

Full to part sun

Forms a broad pyramidal dwarf conifer wtih lush, deep green foliage in overlapping whorls. Foliage turns bronzy in winter.

Boulevard False Cypress

Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Boulevard’

Zone: 4

12′ x 8′

Full to part sun

Forms a upright, broad pyramid with soft, glowing blue-grey foliage. Easy to shape.

Gold Thread False Cypress

Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Filifera Aurea’

Zone: 4

12′ x 8′

Forms an irregular mounding tree with a cascading effect. Fine textured branchlets of golden-green.

Red Star White Cedar

Chamaecyparis thyoides ‘Red Star’

Zone: 3

12′ x 4′

Full to part sun

Compact, dense, columnar conifer. Small clusters of needle-like foliage resemble stars. Olive green needles change to purplish red in the fall.

Cupressus

Blue Ice Arizona Cypress

Cupressus arizonica glabra ‘Blue Ice’

Zone: 6

30′ x 15′

Full sun

Beautiful silvery blue/teal coloration year round and a conical growth habit, becoming broadly pyramidal as they mature. Distinctly flaky, reddish-purple bark.The branches are sturdy, but have a lacy appearance.

Gold Pillar Monterey Cypress

Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Gold Pillar’

Zone: 7

30′ x 8′

Full Sun

Upright and narrow with brilliant golden foliage. Old interior growth is a yellow-green

Wilma Goldcrest Monterey Cypress

Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Wilma Goldcrest’

Zone: 7

10′ x 2′

Full sun

Dwarf conifer that has a tight, columnar habit with exceptional, golden-yellow, lemon scented foliage.

Italian Cypress

Cupressus sempervirens

Zone: 7

40′ x 4′

Full sun

Medium growing to a narrow column with upright branching bearing dark green foliage.

Blue Italian Cypress

Cupressus sempervirens ‘Glauca’

Zone: 7

40′ x 4′

Similar to the species, forming a tall, columnar conifer but with striking blue-green foliage.

Tiny Tower Italian Cypress

Cupressus sempervirens ‘Monshel’

Zone: 7

25′ x 4′

Full sun

Slow growing to a compact, columnar tree with dense, blue-green foliage.

Cupressocyparis

Leyland Cypress

Cupressocyparis x leylandii

Zone: 6

40′ x 10′

Full sun

A very vigorous, upright-growing evergreen with a pyramidal form. Fastest growing conifer.