Chamaecyparis lawsoniana Pygmaea Argentea - Lawson's Cypress

The Chamaecyparis lawsoniana Pygmaea Argentea is a particularly decorative miniature conifer: this small variety of Lawson Cypress forms a large, very dense cone, and is highlighted by very light, almost white young shoots, with silvery tones, contrasting beautifully with the older vegetation of green-blue colour. It grows slowly and is particularly suitable as a permanent feature of small spaces, large rockeries, and containers. While not difficult to grow, it thrives best in moist but well-drained soil, and in non-scorching sunlight.

The Lawson Cypress, sometimes called false cypress, is a majestic conifer of the cypress family native to the moist coastal forests of the northwest United States. In its environment, it often reaches over 30m (98.4ft) in height, with a trunk approaching 1.20m (3.3ft) in diameter. Its habit is upright and conical, and its drooping branches form soft curtains adorned with fairly dark, bluish-green foliage. It has given rise to numerous cultivars, among which there is a wide choice of small-sized plants.

The 'Pygmaea Argentea' variety has a conical, rounded, and very dense habit, not exceeding 1.10m (3.3ft) in height after 10 years of cultivation. Ultimately, it will form a small bush of 1.50m (3.3ft) to 2m (6.6ft) in all directions, with regular shape. It produces numerous slender and flattened branches, covered with scale-like leaves of two types, with a lovely cream-white colour and silvery highlights when they emerge at the end of the branches in spring and summer, gradually taking on a bluish-green colour over time.

The Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Pygmaea Argentea', with its rounded silhouette and small size, is ideal for decorating a rockery, a bed, or even planting in a container. It does not require pruning. The true structural qualities of dwarf conifers naturally impose themselves in the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures over flowers. These plants, with their reassuring permanence, structurally enhance a bed, mark pathways, and border terraces, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed box. They serve as a border for small roses, peonies, or tousled grasses with complementary features. They can also be grouped with shrubs or ground cover plants such as aubrietas, and ceraistes, as well as flowering shrubs. The key is to play with volumes and colours.