Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Erecta Viridis' / Erecta Viridis Lawson cypress

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Erecta Viridis' is a broad, upright, tapering fastigiate cultivar of Lawson cypress with densely packed fresh green foliage that remains stable through the winter. Long ago this was a very popular conifer in the nursery trade but over time it has fallen out of favor due to the tendency of older trees to become bare of foliage among the lower branches. Typical rate of growth in most areas is 6 to 8 inches (15 - 20 cm) per year resulting in a dense pillar, 5 to 8 feet (1.5 - 2 m) tall and slightly narrower after 10 years in the landscape.

Anthony Waterer of Knaphill Nursery, Woking, Surrey, United Kingdom is credited with the introduction of this cultivar in 1855. 'Erecta Viridis' is a selection that Waterer made from seedlings he cultivated from seed he obtained from California. Although this selection was originally listed as 'Erecta' it was later found that another cultivar previously had that name, so 'Erecta Viridis' soon became the accepted correct name for this cultivar.

Attribution from: Aris Auders and Derek Spicer; RHS Encyclopedia of Conifers; ©2012, Kingsblue Publishing