How to Grow and Care for Sawara cypress

Sawara cypress, also known as Sawara falsecypress, Japanese falsecypress, Pea-fruited cypress

Sawara cypress is an evergreen conifer with a relatively easy care profile. Key care points include ensuring adequate drainage to prevent root rot, and providing sufficient sunlight for dense foliage growth. Special care should involve periodic thinning to maintain airflow within the branches, mitigating potential pest issues.

Watering schedule: Every 2 weeks

Sunlight Requirements: Full sun

In This Article

Planting and Growing Sawara cypress

Toughness	High
Care Level	Low
Care Difficulty	Easy
Lifespan	Perennial
Watering Schedule	Every 2 weeks
Sunlight Requirements	Full sun
Soil Type	Garden Soil
Soil pH	5-7
Planting Time	Spring, Fall
Hardiness Zones	4-8

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Varieties of Sawara cypress

Sawara cypress 'Filifera Nana'

Sawara cypress 'Filifera Nana' is a dwarf cultivar of the Sawara cypress. While the parent plant can grow into a tree 30 to 50 m tall, the cultivar was bred to grow just 1 m in height, forming a multi-stemmed, mound-forming shrub. It makes a great display when combined in a mixed border with other conifers.

Sawara cypress 'Filifera Aurea'

Sawara cypress 'Filifera Aurea' (Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Aurea') is a small, slow-growing, and especially yellow cultivar of Sawara cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera). In addition to its color, the foliage creates a drooping effect which is attractive in winter landscapes when all other plants have lost their flowers and leaves. Sawara cypress 'Filifera Aurea' and other cultivars are usually called Threadleaf false cypress due to the appearance of their foliage. 'Filifera Aurea' means 'thread-bearing and golden.'

Sawara cypress 'Boulevard'

Sawara cypress 'Boulevard' is a dwarf cultivar of Sawara cypress, possibly named because it is easy to cultivate as a smaller, decorative tree (for example, along a road or path). It reaches a height of only 1.5 to 1.8 m over ten years of growth. Its dense blue-green foliage is very attractive contrasted against its reddish bark.

Sawara cypress 'Sungold'

Sawara cypress 'Sungold' is a Sawara cypress cultivar that has been selected for its remarkably ornamental foliage, as well its size – it grows 91 cm tall, becoming slightly wider than it is high. True to its name, 'Sungold', it is distinguished by its thread-like foliage tipped with golden-yellow, even in the full sun. It matures to a lime green color which is noticeably different to the Sawara cypress.

Sawara cypress 'Blue Moon'

Sawara cypress 'Blue Moon' is a dwarf cultivar of sawara cypress named for its intriguing silvery-blue foliage. While the parent tree can grow up to 35 m tall, this neat and bushy shrub tops out under 1 m. This rounded evergreen grows in an almost spherical ball shape, which looks much tidier than its parent plant does.

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More General Info About Sawara cypress

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Sawara cypress is a stately evergreen conifer that typically exhibits a pyramidal shape with dense, feathery foliage. Its needles are arranged in sprays and can range in color from bright green to blue-green. The tree is known for its small, spherical cones about 0.2 to 0.4 inches (4-10 mm) in diameter, which are a distinguishing feature. Mature specimens can reach impressive sizes, often growing up to 50-70 feet (15-21 meters) in height and 10-20 feet (3-6 meters) in width, showcasing a grand presence in any landscape.