Description

Leaves: Usually scale-like; may be awl shaped on juvenile twigs; overlap in four rows to cover twig similar to junipers; evergreen; colors from yellow to dark blue-green.

Twigs/buds: Twigs covered by foliage so not noticed; branchlets often flattened.  Buds small; inconspicuous.

Flowers/fruit: Monoecious.  Pollen cones small, yellow, releasing pollen in spring; female cones nearly round, woody; 1/2" to 3/4" diameter; brown; 8 shield-shaped scales with a bump on each one.

Bark: Scaly; red-brown.

Wood: Unimportant.

General: Intergeneric hybrid between Chamaecyparis nootkatensis and Cupressus macrocarpa, or other species from those two genera.  First grown in the 1800s.  Shade intolerant.

Landscape Use: I have found these in St. George, but also on the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City, so though touted as being for warm climates, can stand some cold.  Tolerant of salt and high soil pH.  Can grow very fast (up to 3' a year) and, like all such trees, somewhat over-sold as being a "miracle tree".  Grown as a Christmas tree in other parts of the country.  Many cultivars available of all shapes, sizes and colors.  The one pictured here in St. George looks good; those I saw in Salt Lake City were doing well, but looked somewhat ratty.  Zones 6(5?)-10.

Cultivars: 'Leighton Green', 'Naylor's Blue', 'Robinson's Gold'.

Characteristics