‘Heatherbun' Atlantic white cypress is a woody, needled evergreen shrub in the Cupressaceae (cypress) family. It has a rounded habit and slow growth rate, eventually reaching 6 to 10 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide. The genus name derives from the Greek word chamai, for dwarf or low to the ground, and kyparissos, for cypress. It requires acidic, moist soil with good drainage; it will tolerate soil that is occasionally wet. Locate it on a site that receives full sun or partial shade. Protect it from windy conditions and snow loads as it is prone to splitting. This white cypress cultivar is suitable for lawns, in foundation plantings and hedges, or as a specimen. With persistent juvenile pale blue-green foliage that turns plum-purple in winter, consider planting ‘Heatherbun’ where the winter color can be enjoyed. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. It does have some susceptibility to juniper blight, root rot, and certain insect pests such as bagworms. See Clemson's publication on root rot . This tree is frequently damaged by white tailed deer. VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for " Trees, Shrubs and Conifers " a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Chamaecyparis thyoides .
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 nicheChamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Lutea'Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Boulevard'Rhaphiolepis indica
Native alternativesJuniperus 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
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)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Rounded
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Needles
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Blue-green needles with purplish winter color.
Fall color
Purple/Lavender
Flower form
Insignificant
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn
Landscape theme
Water Garden
Design feature
Foundation Planting; Hedge; Specimen
Garden tags
#evergreen #foundation planting #specimen #shrub #blue green needles #full sun tolerant #partial shade tolerant #winter color bronze #winter color purple #slow growing #low maintenance #deer browsing plant #winter interest #hedge