Chamaecyparis obtusa / Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa, as described in 1847 by (Siebold et Zuccarini) Stephan Friedrich Ladislaus Endlicher (1804–1849), in Synopsis Coniferarum , 63rd edition, is commonly known as 檜 or 桧 (Hinoki or Finuchi) in the Japanese language or simply Hinoki cypress or false-cypress. The epithet references the blunt (or obtuse) foliage tips.
There are two recognized varieties:
For more taxonomic data, please refer to the Tropicos entry for this species.
Description . Hinoki cypress is an evergreen coniferous species of tree in the Cupressaceae family which grows to mature heights 130 feet (40 m) tall with a 10 foot (3 m) trunk diameter, measured at breast height.
Trunk is straight, bark reddish brown, fibrous, and fissured into thin strips.
Branchlets are slender and closely arranged in one horizontal plane.
Foliage is subulate on seedlings, then scale-like, densely imbricate, closely appressed, dark green above, with white marks beneath The apex is obtuse and often keeled.
Seed ones are globose at maturity , 0.3 to 0.5 inch (8 - 12 mm) in diameter, with 8-10 scales , each scale smoothly rounded and minutely mucronate, the apical pair of scales fused.
Seeds about 0.12 inch (3 mm) long, narrowly winged, and about 0.16 inch (4 mm) in diameter.
Distribution . This species is native to southern Japan.
For more pictures of mature plants in nature or large public gardens, please refer to the TreeLib entry for this species.
Attribution from: Chris Earle, The Gymnosperm Database, ©2012
Chamaecyparis obtusa, Hinoki Cypress, Tanzawa Mountains, Japan
Photo by Σ64, via Wikipedia commons
Chamaecyparis obtusa —
photographed by David in his Kansas garden, USA during October of 2006.
Photo by David Stegmaier
Chamaecyparis obtusa / Hinoki cypress
RECOMMENDED HARDINESS ZONES:
6 (0 to -10 F / -17.8 to -23.3 C)
HORTICULTURAL STATUS: RHS Accepted Genus
COLOR: Dark Green
GROWTH SHAPE: Broad Upright or Oval
GROWTH SIZE: Large: greater than 12 inches (30 cm) per year / greater than 12 feet (4 m) after 10 years
Download QR code image to use on plant tags
Explore other Chamaecyparis species
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Chamaecyparis formosensis / Taiwan red cypress
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Chamaecyparis lawsoniana / Lawson cypress
Chamaecyparis pisifera / sawara cypress
Chamaecyparis thyoides / Atlantic white cypress
Explore trinomials in the Chamaecyparis obtusa species
-- Select a Trinomial --
Chamaecyparis obtusa '22 Karat' / 22 Karat Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Alaska' / Alaska Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Albospica' / white-tipped Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Albovariegata' / white-variegated Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Argentea' / silver Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Aurea' / golden Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Aurora' / Aurora Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Baldwin Variegated' / Baldwin Variegated Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Bambi' / Bambi Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Barkenny' / Barkenny Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Bassett' / Bassett Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Bess' / Bess Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Breviramea' / Breviramea Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Brigitt' / Brigitt Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Butterball' / Butterball Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Caespitosa' / tufting Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Chabo yadori' / Chabo yadori Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Chabo Yadori Nishiki' / Nishiki Hinoki
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Chilworth' / Chilworth Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Chirimen' / Chirimen Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Compacta' / compact Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Compact Fernspray' / Compact Fernspray Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Confucius' / Confucius Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Contorta' / contorted Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Coralliformis' / coral-form Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Cream Tart' / Cream Tart Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii' / Cripps' golden Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Dainty Doll' / Dainty Doll Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Den Ouden' / Den Ouden Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Densa' / Densa Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Devine's Sport' / Devine's Sport Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Elf' / Elf Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Ellie B' / Ellie B Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Elmwood Gold' / 'Elmwood Gold' Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Emelie' / Emelie Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Ericoides' / ericoid Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Erika' / Erika Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Fernspray Gold' / Golden Fernspray Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Filicoides' / Fernspray Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Filiformis' / threadleaf Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Filiformis Aurea' / golden threadleaf Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Flabelliformis' / fan-shaped Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Fontana' / Fontana Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa var. formosana / Taiwan yellow cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Gemstone' / Gemstone Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Gimborn's Beauty' / Gimborn's Beauty Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Gitte' / Gitte Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Gnome' / Gnome Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Gold Drop' / Gold Drop Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Golden Fairy' / Golden Fairy Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Golden Fern' / Golden Fern Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Golden Filament' / Golden Filament Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Golden Nymph' / Golden Nymph Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Golden Pillar' / Golden Pillar Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Golden Sprite' / Golden Sprite Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Golden Whorl' / Golden Whorl Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Goldilocks' / Goldilocks Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Goldspire' / Goldspire Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Gracilis' / graceful Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Gracilis Aurea' / graceful golden Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Graciosa' / gracious Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Green Cushion' / Green Cushion Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Green Diamond' / Green Diamond Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Hage' / Hage Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Intermedia' / intermediate Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Ivan's Column' / Ivan's Column Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'JR' / JR Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Juniperoides' / juniper-leaf Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Juniperoides Compacta' / compact juniper-leaf Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Just Dandy' / Just Dandy Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Kanaami hiba' / Kanaami hiba Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Kerdalo' / Kerdalo Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Kojolco' / Kojolco Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Koster Fast Form' / Koster Fast Form Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Kosteri' / Koster's Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Lacy' / Lacy Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Laxa' / Laxa Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Lemon Twist' / Lemon Twist Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Leprechaun' / Leprechaun Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Limerick' / Limerick Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Little Ann' / Little Anne Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Little John' / Little John Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Little Marky' / Little Marky Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Lucas' / Lucas Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Lycopodioides' / clubmoss-leaf Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Lycopodioides Aurea' / golden clubmoss-leaf Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Lynn's Golden Ceramic Christmas Tree' / Lynn's Golden Ceramic Christmas Tree Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Magnifica' / magnificent Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Mariesii' / Maries' Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Maureen' / Maureen Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Melody' / Melody Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Meroke' / Meroke Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Mhondoro' / Mhondoro Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Minima' / minimal Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Moonlight Lace' / Moonlight Lace Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Moonshine' / Moonshine Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana' / dwarf Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Argentea' / dwarf silver Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Aurea' / dwarf golden Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Compacta' / dwarf compact Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Gracilis' / graceful dwarf Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Lutea' / dwarf golden Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Prostrata' / dwarf prostrate Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Pyramidalis' / dwarf pyramidal Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa var. obtusa / type variety of Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Opaal' / Opaal Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Oregon Crested' / Oregon Crested Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Pygmaea' / pygmy Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Pygmaea Aurescens' / golden pygmy Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Pygmaea Chimo Hiba' / Pygmaea Chimo Hiba Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Rainbow' / Rainbow Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Rashahiba' / Rasha hiba Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Reis Dwarf' / Reis Dwarf Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Repens' / creeping Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Rezek' / Rezek Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Rigid Dwarf' / Rigid Dwarf Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Saffron Spray' / Saffron Spray Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Snowflake' / Snowflake Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Snowkist' / Snowkist Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Sparkles' / Sparkles Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Special Variegated' / Special Variegated Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Spiralis' / spiral Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Spirited' / Spirited Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Split Rock' / Split Rock Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Stoneham' / Stoneham Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Suiroya' / Suiroya hiba Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Sunburst' / Sunburst Hinoki
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Sunny Swirl' / Sunny Swirl Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Sunproof Dwarf' / Sunproof Dwarf Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Sunspray' / Sunspray Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Teddy Bear' / Teddy Bear Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Tempelhof' / Tempelhof Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Tetragona Aurea' / 4-rowed golden Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Thoweil' / Thoweil Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Tonia' / Tonia Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Topsy' / Topsy Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Torulosa' / torulose Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Torulosa Nana' / dwarf torulose Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Tsatsumi Gold' / Tsatsumi Gold Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Verdon' / Verdon's Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Verkade's Sunburst' / Verkade's Sunburst Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Vokel's Upright' / Vokel's Upright Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Wells Special' / Wells Special Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Willamette Elegance' / Willamette Elegance Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Yellowtip' / Yellowtip Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Youngii' / Young's Hinoki cypress
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Comments
Cham. ob. 'Gracilis' - green & yellow forms:
In the trade, I've seen 'Aurea', 'Aurea Nana' (not in ACS list), 'Gracilis Aurea', 'Gracilis Aurea Nana' (not in ACS list), 'Compacta', 'Gracilis Compacta' (not in ACS list), etc..
Am I correct to assume that if it's not in the ACS list, it's not a legitimate name?
Thank you, Phin Tuthill
Hi Phin
C. obtusa 'Gracilis' is described as green. A yellow form has nutrition issues, or is something else incorrectly named.
'Aurea Nana' = 'Nana Aurea'
'Gracilis Aurea Nana' = not such thing.
'Gracilis Compacta' = an attempt by Weston Nursery and Daystar Nursery (Massachusetts) to coin a cultivar name in 1982. Illegitimate name if published after 1959.
Phin asked, "Am I correct to assume that if it's not in the ACS list, it's not a legitimate name?" ... Absolutely not! I cross-reference every name with at least 4 different highly regarded references.
Thank you, David!
Hello,
Does anyone have a source of the species tree? No cultivars, the original tree grown in Japan and used for lumber...
Thanks
Hal - were you able to find a find a source for the species?