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Reis Dwarf Hinoke Cypress

Chamaecyparis obtusa (ka-may-sy-PAR-is ob-TOO-sah)

Family: Cupressaceae Unknown Shrub (3-15 ft)

‘Reis Dwarf’ hinoki cypress is a dwarf cultivar in the Cupressaceae (cypress) family. This woody needled evergreen shrub was developed Joe Rei s of Merritt, Long Island, New York in the mid 1970's. The genus name derives from the Greek word chamai , for dwarf or low to the ground, and kyparissos , for cypress. It prefers full sun to partial shade in well-drained clay, loam, or sandy soil with a neutral to acidic pH. With a narrow upright to irregular pyramidal form, it will slowly grow to 3 to 5 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. The foliage of ‘Reis Dwarf’ is rich, bright green, and branches can be somewhat contorted with long delicate needles. As the needles age they turn brown and can be unsightly necessitating removal by hand pruners. Over time this removal of dead branches leaves the living branches at the tips which give the plants a "pom pom" effect. The fussy pruning needed to maintain the appearance of this plant make it a high maintnenace option. Use this sculptural plant it as an accent or specimen in a lawn or Asian garden. It can be grown in a container. Of note, it lends itself to being pruned in interesting shapes like in bonsai or topiary. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Somewhat susceptible to bagworms, root rot, and juniper blight. See Clemson's publication on root rot . VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Chamaecyparis obtusa .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 36 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 3 - Shrub (3-15 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

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.

Often confused with Chamaecyparis obtusa
Fills a similar niche Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa' Chamaecyparis thyoides 'Red Star' Picea laxa 'Conica'
Native alternatives Juniperus communis var. depressa

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Shrub
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Irregular; Pyramidal
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Needles
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Congested medium to bright green foliage has very long, thin needles and grows in fans.
Flower detail
No flowers, pollen bearing cones.
Fruit detail
No true fruits, seed bearing cones.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Lawn
Landscape theme
Asian Garden
Design feature
Accent; Specimen
Garden tags
#evergreen #evergreen shrub #Asian garden #specimen #bonsai #lawn planting #container plant #topiary #needled evergreen #sculptural #high maintenance #accent
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Bagworms in Ornamental Landscapes

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.