Chamaecyparis pisifera 'BABY BLUE' false cypress
Chamaecyparis
The genus Chamaecyparis comprises a small group of coniferous trees native exclusively to eastern Asia and the western regions of North America. Botanically, it belongs to the cypress family and is characterised by its fine branch structure, scale‑like foliage and remarkable diversity of forms and colours, which has made it one of the most important genera of ornamental conifers. The genus was first formally described by Stephan Ladislaus Endlicher (1804–1849) in the first half of the nineteenth century, at a time when Europe was becoming increasingly familiar with the flora of the Far East. Fossil evidence suggests that the ancestors of modern false cypresses were once far more widely distributed, making the genus another example of woody plants that survived major climatic shifts in restricted refuges.
The Sawara cypress is native to Japan, where it grows mainly in mountainous regions of the islands of Honshu and Kyushu at elevations of approximately 400 to 1800 metres. Its specific epithet refers to the small, pea‑like cones it produces. The species was first scientifically described by Carl Peter Thunberg (1743–1828), one of Carl Linnaeus’s most prominent students, who reached Japan during a period of near total isolation from the outside world. In its homeland, the tree has long been traditionally used; its wood is valued for its lightness, durability and fine texture and has been employed in the construction of temples, shrines and traditional bathhouses. When crushed, the branchlets release a pleasant resinous scent. The tree is regarded as a symbol of calm and balance and is often planted near sacred sites; in Central Europe it is also commonly found in cemeteries. Unlike many other false cypresses, Chamaecyparis pisifera is exceptionally variable, which has led to the selection of numerous garden forms differing in habit and colour.
Baby Blue is a compact, reduced form of the older cultivar Boulevard. It is a slow‑growing cultivar of Sawara cypress, valued primarily for its fine, soft foliage and distinctive blue‑grey colouring. The needles are short, dense and velvety to the touch, with a cool, silvery blue tone that is most pronounced in spring and during cooler periods of the year. The shrub grows evenly, forming a dense, broadly conical to rounded shape that remains stable without the need for pruning. At maturity it typically reaches around 0.8 to 1.2 m in height, with a similar or slightly smaller spread, and remains significantly smaller than Boulevard.
The Squarrosa Group, to which Baby Blue belongs, includes forms that permanently retain a strongly juvenile type of foliage and branching characteristic of seedlings of the species. While in typical plants this juvenile foliage appears only at an early stage and later develops into plumose and then adult forms, in squarrosas the juvenile character persists long‑term. The leaves are flat, narrow and pointed, usually set at angles of approximately 45 to 90 degrees to the branchlets, arranged oppositely or in whorls. Cool, silvery blue to glaucous tones are typical. The original form Squarrosa can reach considerable size, whereas modern cultivars of this group, including Baby Blue, have been selected for more compact growth and reliable garden performance.
Baby Blue is well suited to smaller gardens, rock gardens and modern planting schemes, where it contrasts effectively with dark green conifers, evergreen shrubs or perennials with warm‑coloured foliage and flowers. It performs best in a bright position with plenty of diffused light, where it maintains its intense blue colouring. Thanks to its compact growth and naturally regular shape, it requires no shaping and retains a neat, balanced appearance over many years.
Cultivation of sawara cypress is straightforward provided its basic requirements are met. It prefers acidic to neutral, humus‑rich and well‑drained soil with a constant supply of moisture, particularly during the first years after planting. Although it naturally occurs in alluvial soils with ample water, these sites never experience prolonged waterlogging, as excess water drains freely through permeable substrates. The plant does not tolerate drying out of the root ball. It thrives best in a sunny position, where its colouring remains most intense, but it will also tolerate light shade. Exposed, windy sites are unsuitable, not because of desiccation, but due to mechanical stress that can distort the fine, pendulous branches. Pruning is unnecessary and is carried out only rarely. Hardiness is excellent, withstanding temperatures down to around −34 °C (USDA zone 4) without damage.
Last update 31-01-2011; 26-02-2026
