Its pyramidal habit, loose open branching and scale-like, dark green foliage make the sawara-cypress a notable option for specimen plantings or in groups in a large landscape. Besides its remarkable foliage, this evergreen has handsome reddish-brown bark that peels off in strips and tiny, reddish-brown cones on short stalks.
- Family (English) Cypress
- Family (botanic) Cupressaceae
- Tree or plant type Tree, Shrub
- Foliage Evergreen (foliage year-round)
- Native locale Non-native
- Size range Low-growing shrub (under 3 feet), Large shrub (more than 8 feet), Compact tree (10-15 feet), Small tree (15-25 feet), Medium tree (25-40 feet), Large tree (more than 40 feet)
- Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily)
- Hardiness zones Zone 4, Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7, Zone 8
- Soil preference Acid soil, Moist, well-drained soil
- Drought tolerance Tolerant
- Season of interest early winter, midwinter, late winter, early spring, mid spring, late spring, early summer, midsummer, late summer, early fall, mid fall, late fall
- Flower color and fragrance Inconspicuous
- Shape or form Narrow, Pyramidal, Round
- Growth rate Moderate
