Chamaecyparis obtusa Wissel - Hinoki Cypress

Chamaecyparis obtusa Wissel is a beautiful novelty. This dwarf variety of false cypress forms a regular and very compact bush, displaying superb foliage, a very dense and delicate grey-blue colour, turning bronze-purple in winter. This lovely bush will not exceed 50cm (19.7in) in 10 years and will reach 1m when fully grown. This small conifer will bring a touch of softness and elegance to small gardens, rockeries or pots. It requires an acidic, deep and well-drained soil to thrive.

Also called Hinoki cypress from Japan and capable of reaching 50m (164ft) in height in its natural environment, the false cypress, belonging to the family of cypress trees, is mainly used for making lacquered furniture and for the construction of numerous buildings such as palaces in its native Japan. This dwarf variety, 'Wissel', with a round habit and very compact growth, grows slowly to form a very regular ball, as wide as it is tall. Its growth is very slow. It bears branches with fine complex branching, covered with leaves shaped like tiny scales, giving the plant a mossy appearance. Initially grey-blue, the foliage takes on a more bronze-purple colour in winter, due to the cold.

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Wissel' is ideal for pot cultivation on a terrace or in small gardens thanks to its slow growth and small size. With its round and regular shape,  it will work wonders in your rockeries. As it appreciates acidic soils, it will accompany small camellias, rhododendrons, and azaleas. The architectural qualities of dwarf conifers naturally impose themselves in the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures to flowers. These plants structurally and durably shape a bed, mark the paths 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 bushes or ground cover plants such as aubrietas, ceraistes, as well as flowering bushes. The key is to play with volumes and colours.