'Ellwoodii' Lawson False Cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Ellwoodii'): Compact Blue-Gray Conifer

'Ellwoodii' Lawson False Cypress Overview

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Ellwoodii' is a popular, densely conical evergreen with feathery, erect branches clothed in ovate, blue-gray juvenile foliage. Bluish-black male cones open brick-red; female cones are wrinkled, reddish-brown, to ½ inch. Native to western North America, this adaptable cultivar reaches 6–10 feet tall and maintains its tidy form without pruning.

Growing Requirements

• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Moist, well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic
• Hardiness: Zones 5–8
• Growth Rate: Slow

Care & Propagation

Prune only dead branches; avoid cutting into old wood. Propagate by rooting semi-ripe cuttings in late summer; dwarf cultivars should be grafted in late winter or spring. Potential issues: spruce mite, twig blight, root rot, needle blights. Excellent as a specimen or focal point with winter interest.