Chamaecyparis pisifera Hime-sawara - Sawara Cypress

The Chamaecyparis pisifera Hime-Sawara is one of the smallest conifers currently available on the market. This pretty, compact form of Sawara Cypress naturally forms a wide and flattened cushion, adorned with strongly-scented foliage of bright golden green. With its truly slow growth, it is perfectly suited for ornamenting small gardens, rockeries, and terraces. It is also an excellent candidate for bonsai enthusiasts.

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

The Hime-Sawara variety grows into a dense, rounded bush, often wider than tall. At around 20 years old, it reaches an average height of 50 cm (19.7 in) and a span of 55 cm (21.7 in). Its reddish-brown branches have tightly packed branchlets at their tips. In spring, young shoots tinted with green-yellow appear at the ends of the branchlets, contrasting with the light green background. These golden colours fade in autumn as the foliage is coloured with hues of bronze. The needle-like leaves have a white band on the underside, corresponding to a row of stomata, the "pores" on the plant's epidermis. The bark of the plant is dark red and has a stringy appearance, though barely visible.

The Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Hime-Sawara' is not difficult to cultivate, but it is more suited to humid and cool climates and does not like chalky soils: it is not suitable for hot and dry regions. It is a conifer with a delicate appearance, to be showcased in a small garden, rockery, or in a container on the terrace. With its slow growth and bright foliage, it looks stunning alongside other evergreen plants, small perennials, or ground covers. It pairs well with plants with creeping or columnar habits. In a minimalist garden, light grey gravel or brown mulch can be placed at its base. If you want to design a contemporary or urban garden, dwarf conifers are an excellent choice. These plants have a distinctive look and provide a long-lasting structure to your garden beds, pathways, and terraces. They also complement wild grasses, creating a cohesive design. Play around with volumes and colours to make the most of your design.