Trees & woodland lore · Western North Carolina field companion
Hinoki false cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa
Whole tree — Chamaecyparis obtusa. Species reference; the photographed specimen does not confirm the named variety. Age, pruning, and site affect its shape.☀ Full sun · ◐ Part sun or part shadeΣ64 ↗ · CC BY 3.0Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; full original composition retained.
Problems to recognize in WNC gardens. These are documented susceptibilities, not a local outbreak report or a diagnosis. Weather, elevation and growing conditions change the risk.
Diseases & similar-looking injury
Root rot and shoot blight can cause browning.
Insects to recognize
Bagworms may damage foliage.
When to look
Check drainage after wet periods and look for bags during early summer.
A useful first step
Identify the cause of browning before treatment; avoid persistently saturated roots and inspect foliage for attached bags.
More growing details
Read the leaves
Turn a spray over and inspect the pale stomatal markings. Leaf tips are blunt compared with some other false cypresses.
Read the bark
Reddish-brown bark is fibrous and develops shallow furrows.
Fruit & seed
Small rounded woody cones have shield-like scales.
Winter character
Evergreen fans provide year-round clues; compact form alone does not prove the cultivar.
Origin & place
An introduced garden species or horticultural hybrid; study it as part of WNC landscapes rather than assume it belongs to the native mountain flora.
WNC Notes
An introduced false cypress with varied garden forms. Confirm mature size and provide well-drained soil.
Sun Exposure
Full sun–part shade
MATURE HEIGHT (FT)
50–75
MATURE WIDTH (FT)
10–25
BLOOM SEASON
Spring
BLOOM COLOR
Inconspicuous
FALL / WINTER COLOR
Evergreen
Wet-Soil Tolerance
Moderate
Drought Tolerance
Low–moderate
At Lynn’s Nursery · Gracilis
Chamaecyparis obtusa Summer/Fall 2026 catalog. Confirm current availability with the nursery. Mature height × width: 8–15' H × 4–8' W. Light: Full sun to part shade. Habit: Upright, narrowly pyramidal. Flowers & season: Non-showy cones. Useful narrow evergreen accent. Slow growing; better color with some sun, protected from drying wind.
LOOK CLOSELY
Two views, a closer look.
Place two photographs beside one another. Compare the overall plant with leaves, flowers, or bark when those views are available. Captions identify what each photograph actually shows. Images are not at the same scale; species references may show different cultivars.
Whole tree — Chamaecyparis obtusa. Species reference; the photographed specimen does not confirm the named variety. Age, pruning, and site affect its shape.☀ Full sun · ◐ Part sun or part shadeΣ64 ↗ · CC BY 3.0Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; full original composition retained.Chamaecyparis obtusa. Taxon reference; photograph alone does not establish a named cultivar.☀ Full sun · ◐ Part sun or part shadeCathy Dewitt ↗ · CC BY 4.0Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; no diagnostic content altered.Trunk - Winter - Wake Co., NC — species reference; cultivar identity not inferred.☀ Full sun · ◐ Part sun or part shadeCathy DeWitt ↗ · CC BY 4.0Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; full original composition retained.
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