Exceedingly handsome as a container plant for the first few years of life, Chamaecyparis obtusa ’Filicoides’ eventually becomes a large shrub with feathery branchlets. It can be clipped but is more attractive in its own irregular branching. Wants a sunny spot, evergreen, to 15’ for zones 4-8.

Chamaecyparis pisifera Squarrosa Aurea came to us from a nursery on the west coast. I ordered the cuttings, because we have a number of Chamaecyparis pisifera Squarrosa planted at the nursery which are handsome with their soft blue fluffy foliage. How neat to imagine a similar texture in gold. But I have no idea how large it gets. This I do know: it’s evergreen, it’s a conifer, it likes sun. Based on its species, it should be hardy in zones 4 - 8. Currently, it’s very cute. If it grows as large as Squarrosa (40 feet), cute may not be the term.

A most elegant conifer, Chamaecyparis pisifera ’Squarrosa’ sports juvenile, bluish-grey foliage even as it matures to 40’. Seen here with Korean beautyberry, it is an excellent companion in the mixed border so long as it gets sun and has sufficient room. Evergreen for zones 4-8.

Our nursery has been infected with creeping coniferism to the point where last fall I finally joined the Conifer Society after years of promising Flo that I would. I’m not sure that it’s an acquired taste, but for me it didn’t happen early. Too bad. I missed a lot along the way. We had a single specimen of Chamaecyparis obtusa ’Tetragona Aurea’ in our garden on Elizabeth Street. By the time we moved, it had become quite a striking accent. Height to 20 feet according to certain sources. Performs best in sun or light shade. Evergreen. Zones 5 - 8

This evergreen conifer makes a wonderful specimen in the landscape. Over time Chamaecyparis obtusa ’Cripsii’ becomes a tree form that is a broad pyramid. The leaves or needles are a golden-yellow at the tips becoming mid-green within. The color is not garish as with some "golden" conifers. Prefers full sun and some protection from harsh winds. Zones 5 - 8.