Golden hinoke cypress is a dwarf evergreen tree in the Cupressaceae (cypress) family with a broadly conical form. The parent plant is native to Japan. The genus name comes from the Greek words chamai , which means dwarf, and kyparissos , which means cypress tree. The plant grows in full sun to partial shade on acidic, well-drained, moist loam soil. The golden color will be the most dramatic in full sun. It will tolerate occasional flooding and browsing by deer. This cultivar has spreading branches and pendant sprays of bright, showy foliage that bring an attractive golden color to winter gardens. The tree grows upright, and the foliage matures to yellow on the interior of the tree with some yellow on the green tips, giving it a two-toned effect. With its slow to moderate growth rate, it can be used as a specimen tree, in bonsai, and around water gardens, ponds, and streams. Planted in the background of a perennial garden, the golden foliage makes for a beautiful backdrop. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Chamaecyparis obtusa .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheBuxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa'Rhododendron impeditumThuja occidentalis 'Degroot' s Spire'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Tree
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in. | Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Pyramidal; Spreading
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Needles; Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf margin
Entire
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Grown for foliage: sprays of tiny feathery, bright golden-yellow scale-like foliage on frond-like spreading branches; green within the plant; good winter color.
Flower detail
No true flowers.
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
No true fruit - female seed-bearing cones are green when immature turning to brown.
Bark detail
Shredding, reddish-brown bark which peels off in long narrow strips.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Deer resistant
Attracts
Songbirds
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Pond; Woodland
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Cottage Garden; Garden for the Blind; Water Garden; Winter Garden