Chamaecyparis obtusa Kamarachiba - Hinoki Cypress

Kamarachiba Chamaecyparis obtusa is a dwarf variety of hinoki cypress, with a rounded to oval habit, slightly loose and spreading. Its flat branches have a feathery appearance and gracefully droop, creating a charmingly calculated disorder. It displays a bright yellow foliage marked with cream, which turns coppery bronze in the winter. It is slow-growing and will reach a height of 90 cm (35.4 in) in 10 years. This slightly unkempt and highly colourful conifer will bring life to small spaces, flower beds, or rock gardens throughout the year. It adapts remarkably well to container cultivation. Easy to grow, it prefers a sunny or partially shaded exposure, and fertile soil that is moist but well-drained, and not too chalky.

Also known as hinoki cypress, belonging to the Cupressaceae family, and capable of reaching a height of 50 m (164 ft) in its natural environment, the false cypress is primarily used for making lacquered furniture and constructing numerous buildings such as palaces, in its country of origin. The dwarf variety, 'Kamarachiba', presents a beautiful bushy clump with a rather oval and flexible habit, wider than it is tall. It grows slowly. After ten years of cultivation, it will reach a height of 90 cm (35.4 in) to 1 m (3 ft 4 in), with a diameter of 1.20 m (3 ft 11 in). An adult specimen will measure 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) in height, after many years of cultivation. It bears lemon-yellow to pale yellow foliage, covering supple and pinnate branches that give the overall appearance of a fern.

The Kamarachiba Chamaecyparis obtusa is a whimsical and cheerful conifer. It is ideal for container cultivation on a terrace or in small gardens due to its slow growth and small size. With its soft and natural shape it will work well in your rock gardens, alongside darker varieties. The architectural qualities of dwarf conifers naturally stand out in the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of forms, silhouettes, and textures over flowers. These plants structurally enhance a flower bed, mark pathways and border the terrace, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood. They provide a setting for small roses, peonies, or tousled grasses with highly complementary forms. They can also be associated with shrubs or ground cover plants such as aubrietas and cerastiums, as well as flowering shrubs. The key is to play with volumes and colours.

Tips: Water during periods of high heat as it is sensitive to drought.