Chamaecyparis pisifera Boulevard - Sawara Cypress

The Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Boulevard' is a form with reduced development of the Sawara Cypress, admired for its fragrant foliage, as soft to the eye as it is to the touch. This conifer seems dressed in feathery greenish-blue plumes whose silvery reflections beautifully capture the light, as if its branches were in perpetual motion, and its beautiful 'fur' takes on slight violet or purple hues under the effect of cold. Slowly forming a large, somewhat blurry cone, this false-cypress is well suited to small gardens and can even be cultivated for many years in a large container.

The Chamaecyparis pisifera is a robust Japanese species belonging to the cypress family, which can reach 45m (147ft 7in) in its natural state. It is mainly used for its lemon-yellow, rot-resistant wood, in the production of lacquered furniture and for the construction of many buildings such as palaces in its country of origin. It has given rise to many cultivars, classified into four groups: 'Plumosa', 'Squarrosa', 'filifera', and 'Nana'.

The 'Boulevard' variety is a famous mutation of the 'Squarrosa' form (Sawara cypress with flexible branches and juvenile needles. After many years, it forms a pyramidal bush, reaching an average height of 1m (3ft 4in) and a width of 75cm (29.5in) at the age of 10. It grows very slowly, reaching a final dimension of 2.50m (8ft 2in) in height and 1.50m (4ft 11in) in diameter on average. Its reddish-brown branches bear very tight branchlets at their tips, arranged in "plumes". Against a matte greenish-blue background, flexible young shoots tinged with blue-silver emerge in spring. These silvery reflections fade in autumn, with the cold colouring the foliage with violet to purple hues. The undersides of the needle-like leaves show a white band, corresponding to a row of stomata (the 'pores' on the plant's epidermis). Its barely visible bark, is a dark red and has a fibrous appearance.

The Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Boulevard' is not difficult to grow, but it is better suited to humid and cool climates and does not like chalky soils: it is not suitable for hot and dry regions. It is an exceptionally elegant conifer, almost precious in appearance, to be showcased in a small garden, a rock garden, or a container on the terrace. With its very slow growth and superb foliage, it will work well in the company of other evergreen plants, small perennials, or ground covers. It pairs well with species with a rounded or columnar habit. In a minimalist garden, light grey gravel or brown mulch can be placed at its base. 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 provide lasting structure to a flowerbed, mark pathways and line terraces, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood or holly. They serve as a setting for tousled grasses, whose form is so complementary. The key is to play with volumes and colours.