Chamaecyparis obtusa Rashahiba - Hinoki Cypress

The Chamaecyparis obtusa Rashahiba is a compact form of the Japanese hinoki false cypress with golden foliage, whose original silhouette seems to be in perpetual motion. Its flat and thick branches with a feathery appearance gracefully tousle in a beautiful range of yellow and acidic green, very bright, which becomes more bronze in the winter. Slow-growing, it will reach a height of 1m (3 ft 4 in) in 10 years. This slightly unkempt and highly colourful conifer will bring life to small spaces, flower beds, or rockeries throughout the year. It adapts remarkably well to container cultivation. It prefers a sunny or semi-shaded exposure, fertile soil, somewhat moist but well-drained, humus-rich, non-limestone.

The obtuse false cypress, also known as the Japanese Hinoki cypress, is a type of tree that belongs to the Cypress family. It is often used in Japan to make lacquered furniture and to build palaces. This tree can grow up to 50m (164ft) tall in its natural environment. There is also a dwarf variety called 'Rashahiba', which grows more slowly and has thick, somewhat tortuous branches that give it an unpredictable, informal upright habit. After many years of cultivation, an adult specimen of this tree usually measures around 1.50m (4ft 11in) in height and 1m (3ft 4in) in width. The tree's foliage is yellow when it's young but becomes greener as it ages, giving it a feathery appearance.

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Rashahiba' is a unique and bright conifer plant that grows slowly and remains small, making it perfect for growing in containers on terraces or in small gardens. Its untrimmed shape adds to its eccentricity and makes it ideal for rockeries, especially when paired with darker varieties. Dwarf conifers are an excellent addition to contemporary gardens, focusing on shapes, silhouettes, and textures rather than flowers. These plants add a sense of permanence and structure to flowerbeds, pathway borders, and terraces and can easily soften the strong presence of trimmed boxwood. They work well as a background for miniature roses, peonies, or tousled grasses, as they complement each other nicely. Additionally, they can be paired with shrubs or ground-cover plants, like aubrietas, ceraistes, and flowering shrubs, to create a visually appealing garden. Playing with volumes and colours is the key to creating a beautiful garden design.

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