Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Torulosa' is a upright, tangled shrub form of Hinoki cypress with twisted branches and twigs often ending in cockscombs. Like many contorted conifers, 'Torulosa' makes a nice feature plant for the conifer garden. Its unusual structure makes for a good conversation piece. After 10 years of growth, expect the plant to be 5 feet (1.6 m) tall and 4 feet (1.2 m) wide, an annual growth rate of 6 inches (15 cm). As is true of many members of this species, it is a good plant for full sun and well-drained soil. It is also very drought tolerant.
The first mention of this plant was in the William Gotelli Conifer Collection of South Orange, New Jersey in 1962. Many think that this cultivar is synonymous with Ch. obtusa 'Coraliformis.' However, 'Torulosa' is supposedly more vigorous and more commonly seen in cultivation.
