Chamaecyparis lawsoniana Wissels Saguaro - Lawson Cypress

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Wissel's Saguaro' is a variety of Lawson's Cypress with moderate growth, interesting for its picturesque fastigiate habit that resembles a candelabra. This mutation of the cultivar 'Wisselii' presents lateral branches that develop vertically in an irregular manner. Its dark blue-green foliage remains decorative throughout the year. Its sculptural silhouette deserves to be highlighted in the garden. To be grown in a sunny exposure, fertile soil, even limestone and not too dry.

The Lawson's Cypress, in Latin Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, is a majestic conifer of the cypress family native to the humid coastal forests of the northwest United States. In its environment, it often reaches more than 30 m (98 ft 5 in) in height, with a trunk approaching 1.20 m (3 ft 11 in) in diameter. Its habit is straight and conical, and its trailing branches form soft curtains dressed in fairly dark green foliage with bluish reflections. It has given rise to numerous cultivars among which there is a wide choice of plants of modest stature, better adapted to the size of our gardens.

The variety 'Wissel's Saguaro' shows a perfectly columnar habit, particularly narrow when young. Over the years, it develops horizontal branches at the base, rising towards the sky, very visible on the periphery of the growth. At the age of 10, this conifer measures about 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) in height. Eventually, it will form a small tree 5 m (16 ft 5 in) tall by 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in), or even 2 m (6 ft 7 in) wide. It produces slender and flattened branches covered with crisped leaf-like scales. The colour of the foliage is a slightly bluish, dark green.

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Wissel's Saguaro', a true growing sculpture, is suitable for ornamenting a large rockery and small gardens. It can be planted prominently as a specimen. The architectural qualities of dwarf conifers deserve to be more often invited into our gardens, as they provide a permanent structure. These plants fade into the background in summer and assert themselves again in winter, when flowering has deserted our gardens. Perfect in a contemporary setting, conifers also have their place in more classic, even romantic landscapes: they mark pathways, border terraces, and highlight the corner of a large shrub bed. To accompany Lawson's Cypress 'Wissel's Saguaro', consider ground cover plants such as cerastiums or achilleas for example. Cyclamens also form beautiful flowering carpets in autumn or late winter, they will be perfect to dress the base of this conifer.