Chamaecyparis pisifera Blue Moon - Sawara Cypress

The Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Blue Moon', also known as Sawara Cypress, is a dwarf variety of conifer that grows in a compact and regular ball shape, requiring minimal pruning.  It has evergreen foliage, fine, intense silver-blue, and very soft to the touch. Slow-growing, it does not exceed 80 cm (31.5 in) in all directions, making it particularly suitable for container cultivation or rockeries. It is a hardy species that thrives in both sun and partial shade as long as it enjoys a cool, light, well-drained, limestone-free soil.

Chamaecyparis pisifera is a sturdy Japanese tree belonging to the cypress family. It can grow up to 45 m (147 ft 7 in) tall in its natural habitat. It is commonly used for its rot-resistant yellow lemon wood, which is used in the production of lacquered furniture and for constructing various buildings such as palaces in Japan.

There are numerous cultivars of Chamaecyparis pisifera, which are classified into four groups. One is the 'Blue Moon' variety, which grows into a beautiful rounded bush after many years. It measures 80 cm (31.5 in) in all directions and has a growth rate of only 2 to 3 cm (0.8 to 1.2 in) per year.

The branches of this variety are slender and dense, and they are very flexible and slightly trailing. They are covered with intense silver-blue foliage that becomes green-blue in the shade. The juvenile leaves are needle-like, rigid, pointed, and light green, while the adult leaves are scale-like, pointed, and darker. The undersides of the leaves show a very pronounced white band, corresponding to a row of stomata (the 'pores' on the plant's epidermis). The bark is barely visible and is dark red with a stringy appearance.

Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Blue Moon' is a highly appreciated small conifer in gardens for its symmetrical habit and the original colour of its foliage. It is ideal for planting in pots on the terrace and in a rock garden. Its very slow growth and round shape requires no pruning and looks stunning alongside taller varieties with a columnar, pyramidal, or narrow conical habit. 

Dwarf conifers like Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Blue Moon' naturally provide lasting structure to a bed, mark pathways, and border the terrace in a contemporary garden. They are perfect for softening the strong presence of trimmed boxwood. They can also be used in a mixed hedge or combined with ground cover plants like aubrietas, cerastiums, and flowering shrubs. The key is to play with volumes and colours.