Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Butterball' is a dwarf globose selection of Hinoki cypress with bright yellow foliage. It is very resistant to sun scald and it quite hardy. The foliage sprays are typical of the species by maintaining a somewhat vertical habit. The branching is not quite as dense as other cultivars of Chamaecyparis obtusa, but this can be seen as an advantage because of better air circulation. After 10 years of growth a mature specimen will measure 6 inches (15 cm) tall and 8 inches (20 cm) wide, an annual growth rate of well under 1 inch (2.5 cm).
Eddie Rezek of Malverne, New York on Long Island made this seedling selection and introduced it to the nursery trade in the early 1980s. It is a choice addition to any garden because of its small size and bright yellow foliage.
It should be noted that the RHS Horticultural Database of Plants lists a cultivar by the name of 'Buttonball' which is a distinct cultivar introduced by Joe Reis.
