Chamaecyparis pisifera Baby Blue - Sawara Cypress

Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Baby Blue', also known as Sawara Cypress or sometimes false blue cypress, is a beautifully elegant medium-sized conifer with a broad and dense pyramidal habit. Its reddish-brown branches are covered with small, fairly soft needles. The needles are grey-silver-blue on the top and white on the underside. Slow-growing, it will not exceed 2m (7ft) at maturity. While perfect in rock gardens and small spaces, this conifer also adapts remarkably well to container gardening. It prefers a sunny or semi-shaded exposure, in fresh but light and well-drained, neutral or acidic soil.

Chamaecyparis pisifera is a robust Japanese species belonging to the Cupressaceae family, which can reach 45m (148ft) in its natural state. It is mainly used for its rot-resistant lemon-yellow wood in the production of lacquered furniture and for the construction of numerous buildings such as palaces in its country of origin. It has given rise to numerous cultivars, classified into four groups.

After many years, the 'Baby Blue' variety forms a small tree with a broad conical to pyramidal habit, with branches arranged in tiers 1.5 to 2m (5 to 7ft) high and 90cm to 1m (35in to 3ft) in width. Its almost horizontal branches are covered with soft foliage, which, depending on the light, displays intense grey, blue, and silver reflections. The juvenile leaves are needle-like (linear, rigid, and pointed), measuring from 4 to 8mm (0.2 to 0.3in) in length, while the scale-like and pointed adult leaves do not exceed 2mm (0.1in) in length. The undersides of these leaves show a marked white band, corresponding to a row of stomata (microscopic openings allowing gas exchange in plants). Cones appear in March-April at the ends of the branches. On male plants, the cones are black; on female plants, the cones are green to brown. They have a rounded shape, measure 4 to 8mm (0.2 to 0.3in) in diameter, and are covered with scales. They mature about 7 to 8 months after pollination on female subjects.

Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Baby Blue' is appreciated for its elegance and refinement. It is ideal for container gardening on a terrace or in small gardens due to its slow growth and small size. With its natural silhouette, which requires no pruning, it works wonders in rock gardens, in the company of shorter varieties, in a cushion-like arrangement. The silver of its foliage blends well with purple foliage and bright pink or magenta flowers. The architectural qualities of dwarf conifers naturally impose themselves in the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures over the fleeting beauty of flowers. With their reassuring permanence, these plants durably structure a bed. They can mark pathways, and border terraces, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood. They serve as a backdrop for small roses, peonies, or tousled grasses with a complementary temperament. They can also be planted in a mixed hedge or with ground cover plants such as aubrieta and cerastium, as well as flowering shrubs. The key is to play with volumes and colours.