Golden thread-leaf Sawara false-cypress is a semi-dwarf, evergreen shrub in the cypress family (Cupressaceae) that is broadly cone shaped and slow growing. It often grows to only 6 to 7 feet tall and 3 feet wide after 20 years but, under ideal conditions, can eventually reach 20 feet in height and 7 feet in width. The species is native to Japan, and this cultivar originated as a sport with golden needles found on C. pisifera 'Filifera,' a cultivar with thread-like, drooping shoots. The genus name derives from the Greek words chamai , for dwarf or low to the ground, and kyparissos , for "cypress." The species epithet, pisifera, is Latin meaning “pea-bearing” and refers to the small rounded cones borne by this plant. The foliage is thread-like and golden yellow on weeping branches. Plant the golden thread-leaf Sawara false-cypress in any moist, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Full sun gives the best color, but the plant can experience sun-scald. Use the plant as a specimen or accent tree in the lawn or for color contrast in the landscape. It is also excellent as a hedge or border or for privacy screening. It holds its color well through winter, and the peeling bark adds additional interest in a winter garden. Its small stature also works well in small spaces and rock gardens. Quick ID Hints: Cone-like growth habit Branches are elongate, thread-like, yellowish Leaves are appressed scales, white glaucous below with age Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. 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 More information on Chamaecyparis pisifera .
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.
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 drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Broad; Conical; Dense
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Needles
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf value
Showy
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Scale-like, golden yellow, thread-like needles wrapped around pendulous branchlets. The best color is on the south side of the bush. The north or shaded sides of the plant are often yellow-green or green. Intermediate, subappressed, narrow, acute and spinose, becoming scale-like, 2-3 mm long, appressed to twig in pairs and decussate, each pair overlapping adjacent pair above, acute, yellowish becoming green to brown with age, lower surface developing whitish-glaucous markings below on lateral scales resembling bow ties or butterfly wings.
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower detail
No true flowers - the pollen bearing cones are small and often reddish, growing from the branch tips.
Fruit color
Black; Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit detail
No true fruit -female seed-bearing cones are green when immature turning to brown.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
Reddish-brown peeling bark on mature branches.
Stem detail
Elongate, exhibiting aspical growth, threadlike with little lateral branching in juvenile growth of twigs.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Children's Garden; Nighttime Garden; Rock Garden; Winter Garden