Boulevard false cypress

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; afternoon shade helps in hot climates. Foliage is usually bluest with good light.

Water

Keep the root zone evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply during dry spells, especially while establishing.

Soil

Moist, well-drained soil, preferably slightly acidic to neutral. Avoid waterlogged ground and very dry, shallow soil.

Height

10-20 ft (3-6 m) eventually; often 5-6 ft (1.5-1.8 m) after 10 years

Spread

5-10 ft (1.5-3 m) eventually

Foliage

Evergreen. Dense, feathery sprays of soft, short, awl-shaped juvenile leaves, silvery blue to blue-grey. Foliage may become purplish or bronze in winter; shaded interior foliage often turns brown and remains caught inside the plant.

Growth

Slow, usually about 4-8 in (10-20 cm) a year in suitable conditions.

Care needed

Medium

• Deer resistant
• Cold hardy
• Wildlife

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.8 ft (0.54 m)

2. After 1 year

   3 ft (1 m)

3. After 2 years

   5 ft (1.5 m)

4. After 3 years

   7 ft (2 m)

5. After 5 years

   10 ft (3 m)

About 8 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Mildly toxic: may upset a stomach

Growth rate

Slow

• Water deeply during the first two growing seasons whenever the soil begins to dry; do not leave the roots standing in water.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak or the soil is poor; avoid heavy or late-season nitrogen feeding.
• Choose a position sheltered from drying winds, with enough room for its eventual width.
• Gently remove loose, dead foliage from the interior in dry weather without stripping healthy shoots.

Pruning. In late spring or early summer, lightly shorten soft new growth if needed to maintain the outline, and remove dead or damaged branches. Never cut back into bare brown wood, which usually will not produce replacement shoots.

Early spring

Check for winter damage and remove broken or clearly dead branches.

Spring

Plant while the soil is workable, water thoroughly, and renew mulch without covering the trunk.

Late spring

Lightly trim new growth if shaping is needed; keep cuts within leafy growth.

Summer

Check soil moisture during dry weather and inspect discoloured foliage for spider mites.

Autumn

Remove loose brown foliage caught inside the crown and water well before winter if the soil is dry.

Winter

Gently brush off heavy, loose snow before it bends branches; do not knock ice from frozen foliage.

• Use as a blue-grey focal point in a mixed border, with dark green shrubs behind it.
• Pair with Japanese maples and ferns in a sheltered garden with moist, well-drained soil.
• Repeat widely spaced plants along a broad border for evergreen rhythm without creating a clipped hedge.
• Combine with heathers and other small conifers for contrasting foliage colours and textures.

Garden styles it suits: Japanese, Traditional, Architectural minimal, Blues and silvers, Winter interest and Pacific Northwest woodland.

Plant it with: Japanese maple, Japanese pieris, Rhododendron, Heather, Hosta and Japanese painted fern.

Wildlife: Dense evergreen branches provide shelter and potential nesting cover for small birds. It offers little nectar or pollen value for garden pollinators.

• Brown interior foliage: some shaded inner growth naturally dies and remains trapped. Remove loose debris gently; widespread browning also warrants checking soil moisture and roots.
• Spider mites: hot, dry conditions can cause fine stippling, dull colour and webbing. Rinse foliage thoroughly, including shoot undersides, and use a labelled treatment if an infestation persists.
• Root rot: persistently wet soil can cause declining growth and widespread browning. Correct drainage; badly affected plants may need removal rather than extra watering.
• Drought and winter scorch: exposed foliage turns brown after dry weather or drying winter winds. Maintain soil moisture, mulch the roots and provide a more sheltered position.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. It is not edible; eating foliage may cause stomach upset, and foliage or sap can irritate sensitive skin.

• Ellwood's Lawson cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Ellwoodii')

  Usually forms a narrower, more upright column with denser, finer-looking shoots; Boulevard develops a broader cone with conspicuously soft, silvery, feathery foliage.

• Blue Star juniper (Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star')

  Forms a low, rounded mound with stiff, prickly needles arranged in star-like clusters, rather than Boulevard's taller conical habit and softer sprays.

Chamaecyparis comes from Greek words meaning 'ground cypress', while pisifera means 'pea-bearing', referring to the small, rounded cones.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe cuttings in late summer and root them in a free-draining medium under humid conditions. Rooting can be slow; seedlings will not reliably retain the cultivar's characteristics.

Accepted botanical name

Chamaecyparis pisifera

Native range

Japan.

Measured

Average height 2000 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.