Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'ELLWOOD'S EMPIRE'

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.

Ellwood's Empire is a natural mutation of an old and proved Ellwoodii Lawson cypress. Its scale-like needles are medium green with blue-green hues, and in spring its tips emerge bright lime-green or almost yellow-green which makes the whole shrub look very fresh and bright. It grows rather slowly into a narrowly pyramidal or columnar, dense shrub. It requires no care or pruning but can be pruned in early spring or shaped/sheared in midsummer. Don't cut into old wood.

False cypress prefers moist but well-drained, slightly acidic soil but is adaptable to almost all types of soil. It can be pruned, sheared or shaped from spring to autumn. Grow it in full sun or half shade either in a garden bed or in a container where moisture has to be regularly checked but remove the saucer (it require more frequent watering than e.g. pine tree). Fully hardy to min. -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 26-02-2019