Confucius Golden Hinoki Cypress

Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Confucius’

Common Names: Yellow Hinoki Cypress, Confucius Golden False Cypress

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5a-8b Find Your Zone

Shrub Type: Coniferous Evergreen Shrub or Small Tree

Height at Maturity: 4-5′ in 10 years; 10′ at maturity

Width at Maturity: 3-4′ at base in 10 years; 6′ at maturity

Spacing: Use as a specimen, or two to frame an entrance, or in spaced grouping of 3 at 7 feet apart

Growth Habit / Form: Upright Irregular Pyramid

Growth Rate: Slow to Moderate, 6 inches or more per year

Flower Color: None

Flower Size: NA

Flowering Period: NA

Flower Type: NA

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Golden-Yellow (where the sunlight shines), Green (in the shadow spaces)

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: No

Berry Color: NA

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun, Morning Sun with Light Afternoon Shade, Morning Shade with Afternoon Sun

Water Needs: Average

Soil Type: Clay (Amend heavy clay soil to ensure good drainage), Loam, Silt, Sand

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well Drained; moderate drought tolerance when established

Soil pH: 5.5 – 7.5 (Acid to Neutral)

Maintenance / Care: Very Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Cold Temperatures (-20F / Zones 5-8), Deer – more info, Disease, Drought (when established), Heat, Insect

Description

Displaying striking color and beautiful form in the landscape, the ‘Confucius’ Golden Dwarf Hinoki Cypress forms a uniquely irregular pyramid 8 to 10 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet wide at the base over time. It is clothed in feathery fans of soft foliage ranging in shades of bright lemon yellow on the outer foliage that is exposed to direct sun to soft yellow and rich green in the shadowed spaces. The golden color remains during winter taking on an attractive bronzy-orange cast. An excellent vertical focal point specimen in small garden spaces or containers, or use two to frame an entrance.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing slowly in an irregular pyramidal form up to 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide at the base over time, the ‘Confucius’ Golden Hinoki Cypress is ideal for use as an eye-catching focal point specimen in small garden spaces and home foundation plantings, and is effective in small groupings in larger spaces. It does very well in containers provided there is good drainage. A fine addition to Asian themed gardens, conifer gardens, yellow theme gardens, and Xeriscape gardens (low water needs).

Growing Preferences

The Confucius Golden Hinoki Cypress is easy to grow in most any moist but well-drained soil of average fertility and full sun to part shade. Constantly soggy soil or standing water is problematic. Avoid overwatering. Provide only enough water to keep the soil damp to moist. Established plants are quite drought tolerant and will only require an occasional watering during prolonged periods of drought. Maintenance is minimal with no pruning required.

Helpful Articles

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