Chamaecyparis lawsoniana Pearly Swirls - Lawson Cypress

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Pearly Swirls' is one of the prettiest small-sized conifers that can be offered in the garden. It is adorned with pearly young shoots that seem to shimmer on silvery foliage. Recently introduced to the horticultural market, this luminous variegated variety of Lawson's cypress has a round silhouette and a slow growth rate, qualities that are sought after for ornamenting small spaces and patios. While not difficult to cultivate, this conifer appreciates the sun and moist, fertile, neutral to acidic soils.

Lawson's Cypress, sometimes called false cypress, is a majestic conifer from the Cupressaceae family native to the moist coastal forests of the northwest United States. In its natural environment, it often reaches over 30m (98ft) in height, with a trunk approaching 1.2m (4ft) in diameter. Its habit is upright and conical, and its trailing branches form soft curtains dressed in fairly dark, bluish-green foliage. It has given rise to numerous cultivars among which there is a wide choice of modest-sized plants, better suited to the size of our gardens.

The 'Pearly Swirls' variety is an attractive reduced form of this species. From a young age, it shows a globose and dense habit. At maturity, it will form a shrub 1.75m (6ft) tall and 1.5m (5ft) wide, with slightly ruffled vegetation. It produces numerous slender and flattened branches, covered with scale-like leaves of two types, with a beautiful pearly white-cream hue when they emerge at the end of the branches in spring, subsequently taking on a more green-blue hue, while retaining lovely grey highlights depending on the lighting.

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Pearly Swirls' is ideal for a border, or even planted in groups of 3 specimens. It does not require pruning. The sculptural qualities of dwarf conifers deserve a place in our gardens, where they provide a permanent structure. They are rather discreet in summer but make a comeback in winter, when flowering has deserted our gardens. Perfect in a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures to the fleeting appearance of flowers, small-sized conifers also have their place in more classic or even romantic settings. They mark pathways and border patios, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood. They serve as a backdrop for small roses, peonies, or tousled grasses with  complementary temperaments. They can also be combined with shrubs or ground cover plants as well as flowering shrubs. The key is to play with volumes and colours.