Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Ellwood's Pillar'
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FALSE CYPRESS
syn. Cupressus lawsoniana
Family: Cupressaceae
GROWING GUIDE
Geographic Origin:
Garden.
Plant Group:
Conifers.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: A3; 3-6, 15-17.
USDA: zones 5-9.
Heat zones:9-5.
Mature size:
Height: 3 feet (1 m) in 10 years.
Width: 15 inches (40 cm).
Cone attributes:
Oblong, grayish cones ripen to reddish brown male cones and wrinkled reddish brown female cones.
Needle attributes:
Minute, scale-like, blue-gray foliage.
Growth habit:
Pyramidal.
Light:
Full sun.
Soil:
Neutral to slightly acidic soil, moist but well-drained.
Propagation Methods:
Graft cultivars in late winter or spring.
Pests and Diseases:
Well-drained soil is a must to help prevent root rot. Where Port Orford Cedar root rot is a problem this may not be a good cultivar to grow.
Rainy Side Notes
The blue-gray hue of the needles are reason enough to bring this home to the garden, but its other attributes make it suitable for any size landscape. This skinny pyramidal conifer grows only 15 inches wide. For a small or narrow garden, these slow growing evergreens won’t outgrow their space, while providing year round interest. In 10 years, you can expect them to reach 3 feet tall and after 20 years, 5 feet, slow enough to teach extreme patience.
This mini conifer adapts well to container gardens.
Debra Teachout-Teashon
Photographed at Cloud Mountain Nursery in Whatcom County, Washington.
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