Hinoki cypress 'Gracilis'

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; afternoon shade helps in hot climates. Dense shade produces sparse growth.

Water

Moderate; keep the root zone evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water during prolonged dry spells, especially while establishing.

Soil

Moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter, preferably acidic to neutral. Avoid waterlogged ground and shallow, drought-prone soil.

Height

8-15 ft (2.4-4.6 m), sometimes reaching 20 ft (6 m) with age

Spread

4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m), potentially wider on old specimens

Foliage

Evergreen. Small, scale-like leaves form dense, shell-shaped sprays on gently drooping branch tips. Foliage is dark green above, with pale markings beneath; some bronzing can occur in winter.

Growth

Slow, usually about 3-6 in (8-15 cm) a year once established.

Care needed

Low

• Deer resistant
• Cold hardy
• Wildlife

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

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

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

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   7 ft (2 m)

3. After 2 years

   7 ft (2.1 m)

4. After 3 years

   7 ft (2.1 m)

5. After 5 years

   7 ft (2.2 m)

About 32 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

• Plant with the root flare at soil level and allow room for its eventual width.
• Water deeply during dry weather for the first two growing seasons; check the soil before watering again.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak or a soil test indicates a deficiency.
• Choose a position sheltered from drying winds, especially where winters are cold.

Pruning. Remove dead or damaged branches in late winter or early spring. If shaping is necessary, shorten only green, leafy shoots; bare old wood usually does not produce new growth.

Early spring

Check for winter damage and remove dead branches; avoid cutting back into bare wood.

Spring

Plant in cold-winter regions, water thoroughly and mulch the root zone.

Late spring

Inspect inner sprays and branch tips for mites, scale insects or unusual browning.

Summer

Water deeply during dry spells and check container plants frequently.

Autumn

Plant in mild-winter regions and refresh mulch without burying the trunk.

Late autumn

Water before the ground freezes if autumn has been dry.

• Use as a single specimen where its layered branches can be seen against a plain wall or fence.
• Place beside a path or courtyard entrance for a narrow evergreen accent, allowing space for mature branches.
• Combine with Japanese maples, ferns and mossy groundcover in a sheltered Japanese-style garden.
• Plant among lower, rounded shrubs to contrast its upright outline with their softer shapes.

Garden styles it suits: Japanese, Zen dry garden, Woodland, Architectural minimal, Pacific Northwest woodland and Winter interest.

Plant it with: Japanese maple, Japanese forest grass, Hosta, Epimedium, Japanese painted fern and Rhododendron.

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

• Root rot in saturated soil: improve drainage before planting and avoid frequent watering of already wet ground; severely affected plants may need replacing.
• Spider mites in hot, dry conditions: look for fine stippling and webbing, rinse foliage thoroughly and use a labelled horticultural treatment if infestation persists.
• Scale insects on stems or foliage: prune out small infestations and use a labelled horticultural oil at the appropriate stage.
• Brown foliage from drought, drying wind or winter scorch: water the root zone during dry periods, mulch and provide shelter; modest shedding of older inner foliage in autumn is normal.

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

• Dwarf Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Gracilis')

  Usually much shorter and more compact, forming a rounded or broadly conical plant rather than the taller, slender outline of 'Gracilis'. Young plants can be difficult to distinguish without a reliable label.

• Sawara cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera)

  Typical scale foliage has sharper, more pointed tips and less rounded, shell-like sprays; many cultivars instead have feathery or thread-like foliage.

• Japanese thuja (Thuja standishii)

  Has broader, flatter foliage sprays rather than strongly cupped sprays, and elongated cones instead of the small, rounded cones of Hinoki cypress.

Chamaecyparis means 'ground cypress', obtusa refers to the blunt leaf tips, and 'Gracilis' means slender.

Propagation. Root semi-ripe cuttings in late summer under humid, controlled conditions; rooting can be slow. Seed does not reliably produce plants with the 'Gracilis' form.

Accepted botanical name

Chamaecyparis obtusa

Native range

Japan and Taiwan.

Measured

Average height 1040 cm.

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