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shrub

Confucius Hinoki Falsecypress

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Confucius'

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Confucius Hinoki Falsecypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Confucius') at Kennedy's Country Gardens

Confucius Hinoki Falsecypress

Confucius Hinoki Falsecypress

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Confucius Hinoki Falsecypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Confucius') at Kennedy's Country Gardens

Confucius Hinoki Falsecypress foliage

Confucius Hinoki Falsecypress foliage

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  10 feet

Spread:  10 feet

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  4b

Description:

Bright golden foliage with whip-like tips and darker yellow-green on the inside; dense evergreen foliage forms a broad pyramid; a better choice than the species for the typical home landscape

Ornamental Features

Confucius Hinoki Falsecypress is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its distinctively pyramidal habit of growth. It has attractive gold-variegated green foliage which emerges yellow in spring. The scale-like sprays of foliage are highly ornamental and remain green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Confucius Hinoki Falsecypress is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Confucius Hinoki Falsecypress is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Accent
  • Vertical Accent
  • Mass Planting
  • Hedges/Screening
  • General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Confucius Hinoki Falsecypress will grow to be about 10 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 70 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Accent  Articulation  Massing  Screening  Garden 
Applications
Foliage Color  Texture  Plant Form  Winter Value 
Ornamental Features