Chamaecyparis obtusa Butterball - Hinoki Cypress

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Butterball' is a dwarf conifer from the Cupressaceae family. This variety of Hinoki Cypress from Japan is remarkable for its globular and very compact habit, truly irresistible with the tousled appearance of its foliage. It has a yellow-green colour and is resistant to the heat of the sun. It generally reaches about 60cm (23.6in) in height with an equivalent width, provided you have patience, as it is one of the slowest-growing conifers! It adapts to slightly acidic to neutral soils, prefers moist and well-drained conditions, and is very cold-hardy (-20°C (-4°F) and below).

The foliage of the Hinoki Cypress 'Butterball' is evergreen and highly decorative. The finely scaled leaves form short branches that radiate in all directions, giving this dwarf shrub an almost endearing appearance, like a "ball of fur" but in a vegetal version. In sunny exposures, the young shoots turn bright yellow and contrast with the older ones, which turn greener over time. The visual contrast is therefore ensured, with a golden overall appearance and a green vegetative core. This charming miniature conifer is reserved for patient people, as it only grows a few centimetres per year! At 10 years old, its size varies from 20 to 50cm (7.9 to 19.7in), and its maximum height after 20 years or more reaches 60, even 70cm (27.6in). It is therefore well suited for container cultivation, even on a small balcony, where it will brighten up the space with its beautiful yellow colour.

Its globular habit and miniature size naturally invite planting it in rockeries. In these conditions, care should be taken to leave enough space on either side for its growth and not to plant it too close to plants with excessive development. Many plants are sometimes recommended for this use, but they can become invasive after a few years, so be careful! It can be associated with other truly dwarf and slow-growing woody plants, such as Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star', whose blue foliage will contrast nicely with the yellow of this Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Butterball'.
Alternatively, you can play it safe by reserving its perimeter for ground cover perennials that won't smother it.

Hinoki is the Japanese name for Chamaecyparis obtusa and means "fire tree" because it was once used to generate fire by rubbing the wood. The Japanese Cypress is a very important tree in Japan, where its wood has been used for the construction of numerous buildings such as temples. In addition to its economic importance for construction, an essential oil with soothing properties is extracted from it.