Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Mariesii' is an attractive, slow-growing conical cultivar of Hinoki cypress with loose, filamentous green foliage that is variegated milky white. This selection performs best when sheltered from frost, wind and direct sunlight. Typical rate of growth in most areas is 1 to 1.25 inches (2.5 - 3 cm) per year, resulting in a shimmering gem, 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm) tall and wide after 10 years in the garden or landscape. It is believed that more than one clone with these features bearing the same name may exist in the nursery trade.
'Mariesii' is a very old cultivar that certainly originated in Japan in the late 1800s. It was first described by Ludwig Beissner as 'Nana-albovariegata' in 1891 and introduced to the nursery trade in the United Kingdom around 1900. The plant is named in honor of English botanist and collector Charles Maries.
