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Cupressus nootkatensis

22 Jan

Cupressus nootkatensis (30/12/14, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Flowering period: Spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 40m

Eventual Spread: 10m

Hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Family: Cupressaceae

Cupressus nootkatensis is an evergreen coniferous tree with a pyramidal, upright habit. Its dark green leaves appear as flat sprays, its individual leaves are scale like and u to 3mm long. Its branches are often pendulous. Its trunk may achieve a diameter of up to 2m. Its grey/ brown bark is irregularly fissured. Its male flowers are greyish pollen cones with yellow pollen sacks. Its fruit are seed cones and up to 14mm across.

Cupressus nootkatensis Leaf (30/12/14, Kew Gardens, London)

Cupressus nootkatensis, commonly known as Nootka Cypress, Yellow Cypress, Alaska Cypress or Alaska Cedar, is native to the west coast of North America. In its native habitat it grows on cool mountainous sites near the tree line. Cupressus nootkatensis is synonymous with Chamaecyparis nootkatensis and Xanthocyparis nootkatensis.

The etymological root of the binomial name Cupressus is derived from the old Latin name for ‘Italian Cypress’. Nootkatensis is named after Nuu-chah-nulth, the name of the first people of Vancouver island, Canada.

The landscape architect may find Cupressus nootkatensis useful as an attractive parkland tree with weeping branches. It is also a suitable hedging species.

Cupressus nootkatensis Bark (30/12/14, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically, Cupressus nootkatensis seeds are attractive to some birds.

The Royal Horticultural Society has given two varieties of Cupressus nootkatensis their prestigious Award of Garden Merit.

Cupressus nootkatensis requires little maintenance.

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Categories Alaska Cedar, Alaska Cypress, Chamaecyparis nootkatensis, Cupressus nootkatensis, Evergreen, Nootka Cypress, Plant of the Week, plants, tree, Winter interest, Xanthocyparis nootkatensis, Yellow Cypress

Juniperus procera

21 Jan

Juniperus procera (30/12/14, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Flowering period: Early Spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 30m

Eventual Spread: 12m

Hardiness: 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11

Family: Cupressaceae

Juniperus procera is a long lived, evergreen tree with an irregular conical to rounded crown. Its grey/ green leaves appear in two forms, juvenile and adult. Its juvenile leaves are sharp, needle like and up to 15mm long. Its adult leaves are scale like and up to 3mm long. Its trunk may achieve a diameter of up to 1.5m. Its bark is red to pale brown with longitudinal fissures, peeling in long strips. This tree is usually monoecious, is wind pollinated and is not self fertile. Its male flowers are pollen cones, light brown and up to 3mm long. Its blue/ black fruit are a berry like seed cone, are globose and up to 8mm across.

Juniperus procera, commonly known as African Juniper, African Pencil Cedar, East African Juniper or East African Cedar, is native to the mountainous areas of (mostly) east Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. In its native habitat it grows in forests at an altitude of 1100m to 3500m.

Juniperus procera Leaf (30/12/14, Kew Gardens, London)

The etymological root of the binomial name Juniperus is derived from the old Latin name for the Juniper tree. Procera is from the Latin meaning ‘tall’.

Juniperus procera is little used by the landscape architect in the UK. It is an important timber tree in east Africa.

Ecologically, Juniperus procera seed cones are attractive food for birds and mammals. Its structure provides shelter for birds.

Juniperus procera prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It will tolerate most pH of soil.

Juniperus procera requires little maintenance.

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Categories African Juniper, African Pencil Cedar, East African Cedar, East African Juniper, Evergreen, Juniperus procera, Plant of the Week, plants, tree, Winter interest

Abies sibirica

20 Jan

Abies sibirica (30/12/14, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to shade

Flowering period: Spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 35m

Eventual Spread: 10m

Hardiness: 1, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

Family: Pinaceae

Abies sibirica is an evergreen coniferous tree with a conical habit. Its grey green aromatic leaves are needle like, flattened with a pointed tip, up to 3cm long and 1.5mm broad. Its trunk may achieve a diameter of up to 50cm. Its grey/ brown bark is smooth. Its male flowers are pale yellow pollen cones. Its fruit are erect cones, up to 9cm long, 3cm broad, blue/ brown when young, maturing brown.

Abies sibirica Leaves (30/12/14, Kew Gardens, London)

Abies sibirica, commonly known as Siberian Fir, is native to central Russia, west China, Turkestan and Mongolia. In its native habitat it grows in mountainous environments in mixed woodland at an altitude between 1900m – 2400m.

The etymological root of the binomial name Abies is derived from the ancient Latin name for the Fir tree. Sibirica is derived from the Latin meaning ‘from Siberia’.

The landscape architect may find Abies sibirica useful as an attractive ornamental evergreen tree suitable for cold predictable winters. This tree is not tolerant of atmospheric pollution.