Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'PELT'S BLUE'

Cypress trees and shrubs, especially Lawson cypress varieties, are very popular for their variable shapes, leaf types and colours. Conifer lovers choose especially its coloured varieties which help brighten up dark green landscapes, and also work perfectly in outdoors pots.

Pelt's Blue, or Van Pelt's Blue is a German selection of Lawson cypress bred by Hinrich Kordes Nursery and introduced in 1984. It is an improved version of a very successful variety Columnaris (Glauca) with equal habit and growing requirements, but a more prominent blue shade. In summer its scale-like needles are blue-green, and in winter, when chlorophyll has hidden in the roots, its needles shine with cool, steel blue tones. It grows moderately into a dense, narrowly pyramidal or columnar, dense shrub with a slender tip. 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 large 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