Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'DROOPING SOLO' Lawson cypress, Port Ordford cedar
size/type
medium-sized shrub,taller shrub
usual height
2-3m
usual width
1,5-2m
leaves
evergreen conifer
colour of leaves
location
full to partial sun
soil type
any (acidic to alkaline)
soil moisture requirements
evenly moist (dislikes drought)
USDA zone (lowest)
5 (down to -29°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Chamaecyparis
Lawson cypress is native to northwestern America, from Oregon to northern California. It was first discovered by European Americans near Port Orford, Oregon, and was introduced to horticultural market in 1854. It was described by the Scottish botanist Andrew Murray (1812-1878) and named after another Scottish botanist and merchant, Charles Lawson (1795-1873), who became famous by importing new plant species from America to Britain. This cypress tree was one of his discoveries. It is a hardy, evergreen conifer with soft, scale-like needles. Perhaps all over the world in temperate climates, it is widely planted in gardens and parks and is popular for its variability. There are many colourful varieties that brighten up compositions of dark green shrubs and trees and perform also in decorative outdoor containers.Description of the plant:
Drooping Solo is a Lawson cypress variety discovered by a Dutch conifer lover and horticulturist Wiel Linssen from Baexem. It was a seedling mutation of Imbricata Pendula, a similar variety of much taller but narrower habit. Drooping Solo forms dense shrubs of a broadly pyramidal shape with drooping, delicate twigs. Adult size has not yet been determined and is estimated to be around 3 meters tall and 2 meters wide. The scale-like needles are medium green and soft to the touch. It grows moderately fast, approx. 30 cm per year and bushes out even without pruning. Still, it can be pruned in two ways – spring pruning encourages branching and summer shearing is great for shaping.Lawson cypress prefers moist but well-drained, slightly acidic soil but is adaptable to almost all types of soil. Grow it in full sun or half shade either in a garden bed or in a container where moisture must be regularly checked but remove the saucer (it requires more frequent watering than e.g. pine tree) and the plant has to be fed once it has consumed all nutrients from the original soil. In a border it requires no maintenance at all. Fully hardy to min. -29 °C (USDA zone 5).
Last update 05-11-2023
