Conifers
Wilma lemon cypress
Hesperocyparis macrocarpa 'Wilma Goldcrest'
Wilma lemon cypress creates a narrow yellow-to-chartreuse column for a sunny outdoor accent or container. Often sold as Wilma Goldcrest, it is not a permanent houseplant or a miniature that stops growing. Around 6 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide describes a ten-year reference, not its eventual maximum. In Southwest Washington, choose excellent drainage and shelter from hard cold and subfreezing winds. A movable container offers flexibility if moisture is carefully managed: roots should neither dry completely nor sit in trapped water. Prune lightly in spring when necessary and allow room for continued growth.
Ask about this plant
Hesperocyparis macrocarpa 'Wilma'. Buncombe County, NC. Spring
CC BY 4.0 · Web-optimized
At a glance
- Mature height
- About 6 ft at 10 years; can grow taller
- Mature spread
- About 1–2 ft at 10 years
- Light
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Around USDA Zone 7b; protect from hard cold
The right plant, the right place
Make room for something good.
A sunny bed, outdoor entrance planting, or container can accommodate the narrow upright growth. It adds evergreen height where a broader conifer would take up too much room.
Where to plant
Choose full sun, excellent drainage, and shelter from strong wind. Allow space beyond the commonly quoted ten-year dimensions, as established plants can continue growing taller in favorable conditions.
Through the seasons
Bright yellow to chartreuse foliage remains through the year. The narrow outline is the main structural feature.
Southwest Washington gardens
Give it a good start.
Hard freezes and subfreezing winds can damage foliage in Southwest Washington. Choose a warm, sheltered position and plan protection for movable containers when unusually severe winter weather is expected.
Soil, drainage & water
Use freely draining soil or a container with effective drainage. Check moisture frequently in pots and water before roots become too dry, without leaving them in persistently wet soil.
A little care goes a long way
Growing well, season after season.
Prune lightly in spring when shaping is needed. Keep container plants in suitable outdoor light and monitor watering through changing weather, especially when wind or warmth increases drying.
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.
Cold and wind injury
Foliage can brown after hard freezes, subfreezing winds, or severe drying exposure.
Help your plant thrive
Use a sheltered site and protect movable containers during harsh weather. Check moisture as well as temperature when foliage becomes damaged.
Root stress or canker
Poor root condition or individual dying branches may accompany general browning or decline.
Help your plant thrive
Check drainage and irrigation, and avoid stem injuries. Remove affected branches in dry weather when appropriate, with diagnosis if dieback continues.
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.
Explore this plant
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.
Explore this plant
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.
Explore this plantGood gardens start with a conversation
Let’s find the right plant
for your place.
Ask our team about plant selection and current availability.