Other Names:  Alaska Cedar, Nootka Falsecypress, Xanthocyparis

Description:

A truly show-stopping evergreen, featuring bright blue-green foliage splashed with white, on graceful down-swept branches; an absolutely wonderful accent tree for small landscapes; best in moist, rainy conditions but very adaptable

Ornamental Features

Variegated Nootka Cypress is primarily valued in the landscape for its cascading habit of growth. It has attractive white-variegated bluish-green foliage. The scale-like sprays of foliage are highly ornamental and remain bluish-green throughout the winter. The shaggy antique red bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Variegated Nootka Cypress is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen tree with a shapely form and gracefully arching branches. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Variegated Nootka Cypress is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Vertical Accent

Planting & Growing

Variegated Nootka Cypress will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species.