Conifers
Sungold false cypress
Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Sungold'
Sungold false cypress adds golden, threadlike foliage that drapes over a softly mounded outline. Its fine texture contrasts with broad leaves and darker conifers throughout the year. Slow growth eventually produces a shrub commonly 3 to 6 feet tall and 4 to 8 feet wide, with variation by age and site. Allow that outward expansion instead of planning to clip it into a tight ball. Sun encourages gold color, while partial shade can help in harsh exposure. In Southwest Washington, provide moist, well-drained soil and summer establishment water. Prune lightly within living foliage to preserve the natural cascade.
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At a glance
- Mature height
- Commonly 3–6 ft with age
- Mature spread
- Commonly 4–8 ft; variable
- Light
- Sun to partial shade
- Hardiness
- Generally USDA Zones 4–8
The right plant, the right place
Make room for something good.
Fine, hanging shoots form a golden mound in an evergreen border, foundation bed, or rock garden. Leave enough room around it for those shoots to develop naturally.
Where to plant
Allow several feet for the mound to broaden, commonly around 4–8 feet with age. Keep the foliage clear of paths and neighboring shrubs so air can circulate through the planting.
Through the seasons
Golden, threadlike foliage remains through the year. Good light helps maintain its color.
Southwest Washington gardens
Give it a good start.
Provide summer water while roots establish and good drainage through wet weather. In hot or exposed positions, protect the foliage from severe drying and avoid crowding the mound with other plants.
Soil, drainage & water
Prefers moist, well-drained soil. Check the root area during dry spells and water as needed, but avoid compacted or low-lying ground where irrigation or winter rain leaves roots saturated.
A little care goes a long way
Growing well, season after season.
The naturally cascading shoots need little pruning. Avoid cutting deeply into bare old wood, and maintain a layer of mulch to help retain moisture during the growing season.
Know what to look for
Common growing concerns.
Symptoms can have more than one cause. These notes are a starting point for observing your plant and improving its growing conditions.
Foliage blight or stress
Golden shoots may turn brown, and sections of the mound can become thin.
Help your plant thrive
Check drainage, summer watering, and air circulation. Avoid unnecessary overhead wetting and have continuing damage identified before treatment.
Cypress tip moth
Individual shoot tips can brown or show feeding injury on susceptible cypresses.
Help your plant thrive
Inspect damaged tips and nearby growth to confirm the pest. Use controls suited to the identified insect rather than treating all browning as moth damage.
A little more inspiration
Keep exploring.
Weeping Norway Spruce
Picea abies 'Pendula'
A sculptural evergreen with hanging branches that can become an upright specimen or a low spreading feature, depending on its form and early training.
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Cupressina Norway Spruce
Picea abies 'Cupressina'
Dense, ascending branches create a slender evergreen column, offering substantial height and winter structure where a full-width spruce would demand too much horizontal space.
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2016.04.12 18.49.07 DSC03409 - Flickr - andrey zharkikh.jpg
Andrey Zharkikh from Salt Lake City, USA
CC BY 2.0 · Web-optimized
Weeping White Spruce
Picea glauca 'Pendula'
A narrow evergreen with an upright leader and dramatically hanging blue-green branches, suited to a cool, open planting space where its tall silhouette can develop.
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