Chamaecyparis lawsoniana Columnaris - Lawson Cypress

<strong>Chamaecyparis are among those conifers</strong> with dense, scaly foliage appreciated for the making of hedges, notably the <strong>Chamaecyparis lawsoniana</strong> species, surprisingly used in its typical form. It <strong>is nevertheless one of the conifers that has produced the greatest number of cultivars</strong> (over 200!) <strong>such as Alumii</strong> with very compact, bluish foliage and a conical form of 3 to 4.50 m or <strong>Ellwoodii, much used in hedges</strong>. The wild form, capable in cultivation of reaching 36 m in height with a <strong>trunk</strong> of 1.20 m diameter, comes from the north‑west United States, like the giant Thuja. Its branchlets, tinged dark green or bluish green, with slightly trailing tips, give it a remarkable, somewhat phantasmagorical undulating appearance while its variety Aurea Densa forms a spectacularly compact golden <strong>column</strong>. <strong>Sawara cypress</strong> (Chamaecyparis pisifera) <strong>and Japanese Hinoki cypress</strong> (Chamaecyparis obtusa) <strong>also offer a range of dwarf or moderately vigorous cultivars</strong>, with filamentous or, conversely, blunt branchlets, with a fern‑like habit (<a href="https://en.promessedefleurs.eu/shrubs/conifers/conifers-by-variety/chamaecyparis/chamaecyparis-obtusa-teddy-bear-hinoki-cypress.html">C. obtusa Teddy Bear</a>), acidular in <a href="https://en.promessedefleurs.eu/shrubs/conifers/conifers-by-variety/chamaecyparis/chamaecyparis-obtusa-wissel-hinoki-cypress.html">obtusa Wissel</a> in very attractive golden, bluish or intense green colours. The word 'Chamaecyparis' is derived from Greek and means 'cypress‑shaped', given the strong resemblance of its conical <strong>habit</strong> and its aromatic foliage made of small imbricate <strong>scales</strong>. However, Cupressus occupy dry, sunny southern areas while <strong>Chamaecyparis grow in sheltered, moist, often coastal areas.</strong> Chamaecyparis are not demanding about the nature of the <strong>soil</strong>, provided it is fresh, well‑drained and not excessively calcareous. <strong>The species lawsoniana shows a strong susceptibility to the Phytophthora fungus</strong> that decimates its wild population in the United States as well as in gardens where the disease is often spread by nurseries. And although they prefer fertile, deep humus, they adapt to less favoured ground, with moderate <strong>growth</strong> and reduced luxuriance. <strong>Avoid pruning them as much as possible.</strong>