Chirimen Hinoki Falsecypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Chirimen'
Height: 3 feet
Spread: 15 inches
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 4b
Other Names: syn. Chamaecyparis obtusa Habari
Description:
This very slow growing dwarf variety has an upright, narrow habit and fine gray green, bottlebrush-like foliage; great in containers and other small spaces
Ornamental Features
Chirimen Hinoki Falsecypress is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the garden for its ornamental upright and spreading habit of growth. It has attractive grayish green evergreen foliage which emerges buttery yellow in spring. The scale-like sprays of foliage are highly ornamental and remain grayish green throughout the winter.
Landscape Attributes
Chirimen Hinoki Falsecypress is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which should be used to full effect.
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.
Chirimen Hinoki Falsecypress is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Mass Planting
- Rock/Alpine Gardens
- General Garden Use
- Container Planting
Planting & Growing
Chirimen Hinoki Falsecypress will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 inches. It has a low canopy. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 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.
Chirimen Hinoki Falsecypress makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.