Slender Hinoki false cypress is a needled evergreen tree in the Cupressaceae (cypress) family. This tree grows more compact and fuller than the genus in a pyramidal to a conical shape with short spreading and irregularly arranged branches. It grows slowly and will reach 6 feet in 10 years with a 3-4 foot spread. Latin for gracilis translates to "graceful." Hinoki cypress will grow best in full sun but tolerates light to dappled shade. It will adapt to most soil types except wet poorly drained ones. Keep the soil moist the first year and once established the tree is fairly drought tolerant. It needs little to no pruning except to remove damaged branches. This tree prefers some protection from the wind. This graceful tree makes a nice accent or specimen tree, a corner of the house plant or planted in small groups. It can also be grown in containers. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Some susceptibility to juniper blight, root rot and bagworms. VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
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 microphyllaChamaecyparis pisifera 'Cream Ball'Picea laxa 'Conica'
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)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet; 6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in. | Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Conical; Erect; Irregular; Open; Pyramidal
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Green; White
Leaf type
Needles
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Long-lasting; Showy
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Short green needles closely appressed to the branch. The branchlets are in flat fan shapes. The underside of the needles have Y-shaped stomal bands
Flower detail
No flowers
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Small round woody seed cones on short stalks that look like little volleyballs. Green maturing to brown.
Bark detail
Reddish-brown bark
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Taiwan and Japan
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Lawn; Woodland
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Accent; Foundation Planting; Small groups; Specimen
Garden tags
#needled evergreen #narrow form #evergreen #slow growing #specimen #winter interest #landscape plant sleuths course #accent #compact #small groups