Woody > Chamaecyparis > Chamaecyparis lawsoniana > Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Lutea'

Family

Cupressaceae

Genus

Chamaecyparis

Species

lawsoniana

Cultivar

'Lutea'

Category

Woody

Type

Tree (evergreen)

Pronunciation

USDA Hardiness Zone

5 - 7

Canadian Hardiness Zone

4a - 6b

RHS Hardiness Zone

H7

Temperature (°C)

-29

Temperature (°F)

-15

Height

12 - 30 m

Spread

2 - 4 m

Photographs

Description and Growing Information

Flowering Period

General Description

It is a medium sized tree with drooping yellow tipped foliage and pyramidal to columnar shape.

Landscape

This plant can be used as a specimen tree, hedging, screening, or in a low maintenance garden.

Cultivation

This tree should be planted in full sun with moist but well-drained slightly acidic soil. It can also tolerate drought conditions but its growth will be much slower. If used for hedging, two prunings per growing season are required.

Shape

The shape of this tree is pyramidal, columnar, narrowly ovoid with drooping tips.

Growth

Medium

ID Characteristic

Narrowly ovoid, drooping yellow tipped foliage with an indistinct white line on the undersurface.

Pests

Phytophthora lateralis, which is a type of root rot that will kill the tree quickly, and aphids which can cause tip die back.

Bark/Stem Description

The bark is silvery-brown to reddish-brown and it takes on a rough appearance as the plant ages.

Flower/Leaf Bud Description

The buds are 2–4 mm in size, slightly conical, and brown in colour. Chamaecyparis does not bud on old wood.

Leaf Description

The foliage is closely pressed, opposite pairs with white marking on the undersurface. The lateral pair is keel-shaped 1.5–3 mm long, often glandular pitted with long or short spreading points.

Flower Description

The flowers are monoecious, the staminate is pink to crimson and the pistillate are steely-blue.

Fruit Description

The cones are globose, 8 mm wide, bluish-green turning to a reddish brown. Michael Dirr says “This cone resembles a soccer ball”.

Colour Description

The leaflets are glaucous green to light green and have yellow tips that persist all year round.

Texture Description

It is a medium textured tree.

Notable Specimens

The University of Nottingham, United Kingdom. The University of Oregon, Oregon, U.S.A.

Propagation

Propagation by cuttings taken in October placed in half sand and half peat moss media have a 90% success rate. It may also be grafted to the understock of a Chamaecyparis lawsoniana.

References

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