Contorta Hinoki Falsecypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Contorta'
Height: 10 feet
Spread: 4 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 4
Description:
Dark green sprays of foliage grow in dense clumps along twisting branches; a perfect choice for the residential landscape or rock garden as an accent plant;
Ornamental Features
Contorta Hinoki Falsecypress is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its ornamental upright and spreading habit of growth. It has dark green evergreen foliage which emerges light green in spring. The scale-like sprays of foliage remain dark green throughout the winter.
Landscape Attributes
Contorta Hinoki Falsecypress is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.
This is a relatively low maintenance shrub. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Contorta Hinoki Falsecypress is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Accent
- Hedges/Screening
- General Garden Use
Planting & Growing
Contorta Hinoki Falsecypress will grow to be about 10 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 70 years or more.
This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.