Chamaecyparis pisifera Filifera - Sawara Cypress

Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera', also known as Sawara Cypress, is a medium-sized conifer, forming a wide and dense bush at first, before becoming more pyramidal. It has soft and slightly trailing foliage, ranging from bright green to dark. Its branches are covered with very fine branchlets, with a somewhat dishevelled appearance, giving the plant a casual look. It has slow growth and will not exceed 5 to 6m (16 to 20ft) in height at maturity. While perfect for large rock gardens and the back of borders, this conifer also adapts remarkably well to container cultivation.

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, including the 'Filifera' cultivars, with very fine branchlets.

The 'Filifera' variety forms a beautiful rounded and wide bush after many years, which will gradually take on a more pyramidal shape. It will reach 5 to 6m (16 to 20ft) in height, with a spread of 4 to 5m (13 to 16ft). At the age of 10, it will measure about 1.5m (5ft) in height. Its almost horizontal branches are very flexible, slightly trailing, covered with bright green foliage on young shoots, and dark green on mature leaves. The juvenile leaves are needle-like (linear, rigid, and pointed), measuring from 4 to 8mm (0.2 to 0.3 in) in length, while the adult leaves, scale-like and pointed, do not exceed 2mm (0.1 in) in length. The undersides of these leaves show a very pronounced white band, corresponding to a row of stomata. Cones appear in March-April at the tips of the branches, with black colour on male plants and green to brown on female plants. They have a rounded shape, measuring 4 to 8mm (0.2 to 0.3in) in diameter, and are covered with scales. They mature approximately 7 to 8 months after pollination on female subjects. Its barely visible bark is dark red with a fibrous appearance.

Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera' is a small conifer highly appreciated in gardens for its natural habit and strong presence. It is ideal for creating a background for borders or making a statement on a large slope. It adapts very well to container cultivation. With its natural silhouette and beautiful foliage, which requires no pruning, it looks wonderful when combined with lower varieties in cushion form, or conversely, when associated with conifers with a columnar or narrow conical habit. This variety prefers a sunny or semi-shaded exposure, and rather moist but light and well-drained, neutral or acidic soil. It can also be planted in a mixed hedge or combined with ground cover plants such as aubrieta, or cerastium, as well as flowering shrubs. The key is to play with volumes and colours.