Chamaecyparis lawsoniana seed
LATIN NAME: CHAMAECYPARIS LAWSONIANA
COMMON NAME: Lawson’s Cypress, Port Orford Cedar
Lawson’s cypress is one of the most widely planted conifers in temperate gardens, and it is easy to see why: its dense, flat sprays of soft, scale-like foliage glow in shades of blue-green, and its neat, conical habit gives year-round structure with almost no effort. It grows as a tall evergreen tree in the wild, but in gardens it is usually seen as a smaller, shapely specimen or a hedge, with hundreds of named cultivars offering foliage in gold, blue, silver and green. The small, round cones sit on the undersides of the sprays, and the foliage carries a pleasant, resinous scent. Native to a narrow strip of coastal forest in southern Oregon and northern California, it is a tree of the cool, moist Pacific climate, where it grows in the company of other conifers and broadleaved trees. It prefers a sheltered position and moist, well-drained soil, and it dislikes prolonged drought and harsh, drying winds. It does best in partial shade and rich, moist ground.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
Lawson’s cypress holds a significant place in forest pathology and timber research. In its native range it is an important timber tree, valued for its strong, durable, fine-grained wood that resists decay, and foresters study its growth and its role in the coastal forest ecosystem. Most notably, it has been the subject of intensive research into a devastating root disease caused by an introduced pathogen, which has wiped out large populations in the wild and led to studies of resistance, breeding and restoration. In horticulture, it is one of the most important garden conifers, with hundreds of cultivars, and researchers study its ornamental variation, its tolerance of shearing and its use in hedging and screening. For a tree so familiar in gardens and so threatened in the wild, Lawson’s cypress carries a rich and practical body of research.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
Ecologically, Lawson’s cypress is a valuable component of the Pacific coastal forest, where its dense canopy gives shelter and nesting sites for birds and its foliage provides cover for insects and small mammals. In gardens it offers year-round structure and a refuge for wildlife. Economically, its wood is prized for construction, boat building, fencing and joinery, being strong, durable and resistant to decay, and the tree is one of the most widely planted ornamental conifers in the temperate world, used for hedges, screens and specimen planting. The many cultivars offer a range of sizes, colours and habits for different garden settings. For a grower, it is a dependable, valuable evergreen, and for a gardener it gives soft, glowing colour and structure in almost any setting. The small seeds benefit from a cool, moist spell before sowing on the surface of gritty compost.
To grow the Lawson’s Cypress from seed, to raise Lawson’s cypress, give the small seeds a long, cool, moist spell, then sow them on the surface of gritty, moist seed compost and keep them in a cool, shaded spot.
give the small seeds a long, cool, moist spell, then sow them on the surface of gritty, moist seed compost, and keep the young cypresses in a cool, shaded spot.
LATIN NAME: Chamaecyparis lawsoniana
COMMON NAME: Lawsons Cypress, Port Orford Cedar
Lawsons cypress is a garden favourite with a neat, upright habit and foliage of surprising softness. It grows as a tall, conical evergreen, reaching twenty metres or more in the wild but staying much smaller in gardens, with dense sprays of flat, scale-like leaves in a soft blue-green that glows in the light. The foliage has a fine, feathery texture and a pleasant, resinous scent, and the tree keeps its tidy shape with little pruning. In spring the branches carry small, round cones that turn from green to blue-brown. It is one of the most widely planted conifers in gardens, and it is easy to see why: it gives year-round structure and colour with almost no effort.
Lawsons cypress belongs to the cypress family, Cupressaceae, and it is native to a small area of coastal forest in southern Oregon and northern California in North America. It is a graceful, adaptable tree that thrives in moist, well-drained soil and prefers a sheltered, cool position.
Positive & Encouraging Seed Germination Guide
Growing Lawsons cypress from seed is straightforward and gives good results. The small seeds sit inside the round cones, which open to release them. The seeds germinate readily in cool, moist conditions, so sow them in pots of gritty seed compost in late winter or spring, cover them very lightly, and keep them cool, shaded and evenly moist. Germination usually begins within three to six weeks. Pot the seedlings on as they grow and keep them in a cool, sheltered spot, protecting them from harsh sun and drying winds. Plant them out once well established, in moist, well-drained soil in a sheltered position. A cypress you have raised from seed will grow into a handsome, long-lived evergreen for your garden.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
Lawsons cypress has a significant place in forestry and plant pathology research. It is an important timber tree in its native range, valued for its strong, durable, fine-grained wood, and foresters have studied its growth, its cultivation and its role in coastal forests. It has also been the subject of important research into plant disease, because its populations have been badly affected by a root disease, and scientists have studied resistance and worked to protect and restore the species. In horticulture, it is one of the most important garden conifers, with hundreds of named cultivars, and it is studied for its ornamental forms, its tolerance of shearing and its use in hedging and screens. For a tree of such everyday garden use, it has a rich and practical research record.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
Ecologically, Lawsons cypress is a valuable tree. Its dense evergreen canopy gives shelter and nesting sites for birds, its foliage provides cover for insects and small mammals, and in its native forests it is an important component of the coastal ecosystem.
Its economic value is substantial. The wood is prized for construction, boat building, fencing and joinery, being strong, durable and resistant to decay, and the tree is one of the most widely planted garden conifers in the world, used for hedges, screens and specimen planting. For a grower, Lawsons cypress is a dependable, valuable tree, and for a gardener it gives year-round structure and a soft, glowing green that suits almost any setting.
The Chamaecyparis lawsoniana Summer Snow is a gorgeous cone-shaped evergreen conifer with loose branches. Has creamy-white tipped with grey-green foliage in the spring. Suitable for planting in sunny or part-shaded spots but sheltered from the cold north and east winds. In any fertile yet well-drained soil. Has received the Award of Garden Merit.