Learn why, and how, to add a false cypress to your yard. Add color and texture to your winter scenery with this charming shrub.
How to Grow a False Cypress Shrub
Compact and conical, this small evergreen shrub has soft, fernlike leaves and is perfect for hedges, borders and containers. False cypress prefers moist, well-draining soil, and it benefits from protection from winter wind and sun. This slow grower doesn’t require pruning, but those who wish to keep the tree at a smaller size can give it a light pruning during the late spring or early summer months. Don’t remove any branch thicker than a pencil—doing so could create a permanent hole in the foliage.
Plant this shrub where it gets at least four hours of direct sun exposure; it can also tolerate all-day sunlight. Use mulch to help maintain moisture in the soil.
Common name: False cypress
Botanical name: Chamaecyparis pisifera
Growing zones: 4 to 8
Height: 6 to 10 feet
Width: 5 to 6 feet
Light needs: Part to full sun
Foliage: Bright green needlelike leaves with glimmers of silvery blue on the underside
Attracts: Birds
Grown for: Verdant year-round color, attractive pyramid shape and smaller size
Benefits of Growing False Cypress
The lovely foliage on this evergreen makes it a great pick for holiday displays and seasonal décor. Even better, birds adore the loose, airy branches for winter shelter. With its cold tolerance and deer resistance, it endures harsh conditions and won’t become a meal for backyard wildlife.
A relatively small size—it grows up to 10 feet in height—means it can fit into a variety of spots in the landscape and won’t overcrowd what’s already there.
Next, learn how to grow a dwarf Colorado blue spruce for evergreen beauty.
Sources
- Proven Winners, “Soft Serve False Cypress“
- Proven Winners ColorChoice Flowering Shrubs, “Soft Serve False Cypress“
- Monrovia, “Soft Serve False Cypress“
