Chamaecyparis obtusa Gitte - Hinoki Cypress

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Gitte' is a dwarf variety of false cypress, with a slightly irregular flat cushion habit. It stands out for its very fine, sinuate and arching red branches, covered with scaly foliage of splendid golden colour. With its slow growth and small size, it is ideal for decorating balconies, terraces, and rock gardens, and performs very well in pots. This conifer is robust, but it dislikes limestone. It prefers fertile, humus-rich, and well-drained soils and a sunny exposure.

Also known as hinoki cypress and reaching a height of 50m (164ft) in its natural environment, the false cypress is mainly used for making lacquered furniture and the construction of many buildings such as palaces. This dwarf variety, 'Gitte', with a spreading bushy habit, grows slowly to form a slightly loose and irregular cushion, wider than it is tall. After ten years of cultivation, it will reach a height of 40cm (15.7in) and a diameter of 50cm (19.7in). A mature specimen will measure 80cm (31.5in) in height with a span of 1m (3ft 4in), after an infinite amount of time. It bears thin, tortuous, and dense branches, covered with tiny golden-yellow scale-like leaves. In the centre of the 'cushion', the foliage is greener. Its young red branches form a beautiful combination with the golden foliage.

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Gitte' is ideal for pot cultivation on a terrace or in small gardens thanks to its slow growth and small size. With its characteristic and bright silhouette, it will bring fantasy to your rock gardens. The architectural qualities of dwarf conifers naturally fit in the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures over flowers. These plants durably structure a bed, mark the pathways and border the terrace, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood. They serve as a setting for small roses, peonies, or tousled grasses with very complementary forms. They can also be associated with small conifers with an upright, pyramidal habit or with ground-cover plants such as aubrietas, creeping gypsophiles, ceraistes, as well as flowering shrubs. The key is to play with volumes and colours.

Tips: Water during periods of high heat as it dislikes drought.