Elegant, flattened, fan-like sprays of foliage clothe the drooping branches of this noble evergreen conifer from the far western United States. In the wild it forms a majestic conical tree with a massive buttressed trunk and thick shredding silver-brown to red-brown bark. In gardens it is mostly known by its numerous cultivars, which come in many shapes, sizes, and colors.

The tiny, scale-like, green to blue-green leaves clasp and overlap along flexuous branchlets, forming ferny growths. The drooping sprays of foliage have white streaks underneath. Bruised leaves emit a pungent resinous odor. In summer the branches bear small, round, blue-green cones with shield-like scales. The cones ripen to orange-brown in fall, the scales splitting outwards to expel seeds.

Grow Lawson's falsecypress in full to partial sun and moist well-drained soil. It will fail in soggy or clay soil. It tolerates cold winters and dislikes hot parched conditions. Full-sized Lawson cypress is striking as a specimen in a broad lawn, or grouped as a grove or hedge. Cultivars work well in many settings including foundation plantings, shrub borders, and containers. This tree also makes a wonderful bonsai plant.

Genus - Chamaecyparis

Species - Lawsoniana

Common name - Lawson Cypress

Pre-Treatment - Required

Hardiness zones - 5 - 7

Height - 40'-65' / 12 - 20(60) m

Spread - 10'-20' / 3 - 6 m

Plant type - Medium Tree

Vegetation type - Evergreen

Exposure - Full Sun, Partial Shade

Growth rate - Medium

Soil PH - Acidic, Neutral

Soil type - Loam, sand, well drained

Water requirements - Average Water

Landscape uses - Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Rock Garden / Wall, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier

Leaf / Flower color - Green, Dark green / --

GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS

1. Soak the seeds in a bowl of cool water overnight. Lay the seeds on a flat surface to dry for several hours.

2. Stratify seeds in a plastic bag full of moist sand inside the refrigerator for 60 days. Keep the sand barely moist during the cold stratification period.

3. Sow the seeds the following spring once outdoor temperatures rise above +18C (65F) during the day and +8C (48F) at night. Or sow indoors in the propagator or pots

4. Prepare a pot for each seed. Fill with clean soil. Sow one seed in each pot at a depth of 6 mm (1/4").

5. Water the seeds to a depth of ~8-10 cm (~3") after planting them. Maintain moisture at this depth during the germination process.

6. Place the pots outdoors in a sheltered spot where they will be exposed to direct sun in the morning and afternoon. Protect the seeds from direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day since the soil will warm too quickly and dry out.