Chamaecyparis thyoides
Atlantic Whitecedar, Whitecedar Falsecypress
Cupressaceae
ExpandHabitat
- native to eastern United States
- hardy to zone 4
Habit and Form
- an evergreen tree
- narrow, columnar form
- up to 50' tall and only 10' to 20' wide
- medium growth rate
- medium texture
Summer Foliage
- bright to bluish-green needles
- sharply pointed
- leaves turn brown second year and persist
- leaves are very small
Autumn Foliage
- no autumn color
- brown needles persist on branches for several years
Flowers
- not of ornamental importance
- monoecious
Fruit
- brown cones
- cones are clustered on small branchlets
- 0.25" across
Bark
- light gray to reddish brown bark
- irregularly furrowed
- very thin, spreading branches
Culture
- prefers deep, moist, sandy soil
- best in full sun
- naturally grows in swamps and bogs
Landscape Use
- lawn tree
- for evergreen features
- specimen
- naturalized area
- wet sites
Liabilities
- no serious pests
- retains dead needles
ID Features
- scale-like leaves
- white markings typical of chamaecyparis
- bluish-green leaf color
- small brown cones
- irregularly furrowed bark
- retains dead leaves
Propagation
- by cuttings
- by seed
Cultivars/Varieties
'Andelyensis' - This form slowly reaches 10' tall, with a wide pyramidal habit. The foliage is verdant green in summer, purpish in winter.
'Aurea' - Conical form to 15' with yellow foliage, bronzy in winter.
'Ericoides' - An interesting juvenile form with needle-like foliage that is a blue-green color. The leaves turn a pronounced purplish hue in winter, and the plant should only reach 6' tall.
'Little Jamie' - A conical form that grows very slowy to 4'. Foliage traits similar to 'Andelyensis'.
Various blue-foliaged forms are occasionally available, including 'Glauca', 'Blue Sport' and 'Hopkinton'.
'Variegata' - Foliage bears flecks and spots of gold, needs shade.