Chamaecyparis obtusa Gold Drop - Hinoki Cypress

The Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Gold Drop' is a dwarf variety of false cypress, with a conical, round and very compact habit. It displays feathery light green foliage tinged with yellow, particularly bright in winter. This slow growing variety will reach a height of 60 cm (23.6 in) in 10 years. This small conifer will bring rigour and whimsy to small spaces, rockeries or containers. Prefering a semi-shaded exposure, it will thrive in a fertile, humus rich and moist soil, that is devoid of limestone and perfectly drained.

Also called Japanese hinoki cypress and capable of reaching 50 m (164 ft) in height in its natural environment. The dwarf variety, 'Gold Drop', is a selection from 1982. It has a rounded and compact habit, growing slowly to form an irregular cone, almost as wide as it is tall. After ten years of cultivation, it will reach 60 cm (23.6 in) to 70 cm (27.6 in) in height, with a diameter of 50 cm (19.7 in). It is believed that an adult specimen will measure 90 cm (35.4 in) to 1 m (3 ft 4 in) in height, after many years of cultivation, although few specimens have, to date, reached their full maturity. It bears very light green foliage with a hint of yellow, covering complex branchings that give an appearance of lace. Its young winter shoots, acid green to cream, contrast beautifully with the older foliage, which is a bright, shiny green.

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Gold Drop' is ideal for container cultivation on a terrace or in small gardens due to its slow growth and small size. It's gentle and natural shape will work wonders in rockeries alongside darker varieties. The true graphic qualities of dwarf conifers naturally impose themselves in the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes and textures to flowering plants. These structural plants, with their reassuring permanence, easily substitute for the strong presence of trimmed boxwood. They serve as a backdrop for small roses, peonies, or tousled grasses with a very complementary temperament. They can also be associated with shrubs or ground cover plants such as aubrietas, ceraistes, as well as flowering shrubs. The key is to play with volumes and colors.

Tips: Water during periods of high heat as it is sensitive to drought.