Plants in family cupressaceae
Cryptomeria japonica 'Radicans'
Cryptomeria japonica 'Radicans' is an evergreen tree with soft, dense blue-green foliage and red-brown bark. It grows in a columnar to pyramidal shape, reaching heights of 30-50 feet and widths of 15-20 feet. This fast-growing tree can add 3-4 feet per year and thrives in full sun to partial shade. It is adaptable to various soil conditions and is resistant to pests, diseases, and deer. The tree is drought-tolerant and suitable for USDA zones 5-9. Its needles may turn bronze in cold temperatures, adding seasonal interest.
Thuja occidentalis 'Congabe'
These exceptionally uniform shrubs have an almost perfect globe shape with red-orange tips and lime-green interiors. They mature to a size of 3 feet by 3 feet and provide year-round color interest. Thriving in USDA zones 5a to 8b, they prefer full sunlight and dappled shade and are drought tolerant. They grow well in loam, clay, and chalk soils and require watering 2-3 times per week during the first growing season.
Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd'
Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd', also known as Emerald Green Arborvitae, is an evergreen tree with dense foliage ideal for natural privacy screens. It grows 8-15 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide, thriving in USDA zones 3-8. This pyramidal-shaped tree prefers full sun to partial shade and adapts to various soil types, growing about 1 foot per year.
Metasequoia glyptostroboides
The Metasequoia glyptostroboides, also known as the dawn redwood, is a fast-growing, deciduous conifer with feathery, needle-like foliage. Its leaves transition from light green in spring to rich green in summer, and fiery russet in fall. This 'living fossil' was rediscovered in China in the mid-20th century and can reach heights of 70 to 100 feet, with some specimens growing even taller. It thrives in damp soils and requires full sun, making it suitable for USDA hardiness zones 4 to 8. Despite being endangered in the wild due to deforestation, it is widely planted in arboreta and gardens worldwide. The tree is notable for its unique trunk structure, which forms a distinctive 'armpit' under each branch, and its bark that exfoliates in ribbon-like strips.
Hesperotropsis leylandii
Hesperotropsis leylandii is a fast-growing evergreen tree with dense, feathery dark green foliage and a pyramidal shape. It can reach heights of 40-60 feet and widths of 15-25 feet, making it ideal for privacy screens. This tree is drought and salt-tolerant, thriving in well-drained soils and full sun. It is slightly toxic to dogs and not deer-resistant, but it is disease-resistant and grows rapidly, adding 3-5 feet annually.
Thuja plicata 'Green Giant'
Thuja plicata 'Green Giant' is a fast-growing evergreen tree, reaching heights of 40-50 feet and widths of 10-12 feet. Known for its resilience, it withstands heavy snow, ice, and wind, and is resistant to pests and deer. This tree is ideal for creating privacy screens and is hardy in USDA Zones 4-8. It requires full sun and well-draining soil, becoming drought-tolerant once established.
Juniperus sabina var. davurica
Juniperus sabina var. davurica is an evergreen plant with a low and spreading growth habit. It features deep green foliage with blue undertones and is tolerant of heat, humidity, and salt spray. This drought-tolerant plant is ideal for rock gardens and slopes.
Microbiota decussata
Microbiota decussata, also known as Siberian carpet cypress, is a prostrate shrub native to the Russian Far East. It features soft green foliage that forms flat sprays and may turn bronze in winter. This drought-tolerant plant is an excellent groundcover for partially shady areas, spreading up to 4 feet wide and requiring good drainage.
Fokienia hodginsii
Fokienia hodginsii is a rare conifer from China, notable for its leaves that resemble green coral. It has a loose, upright growth habit and thrives in light shade or partial sun. This unique plant adds an exotic touch to gardens and is appreciated for its unusual foliage.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Globosa Nana'
This evergreen plant has a rounded and cascading shape with blueish-green coloring that turns copper burgundy in colder months. It features long, rope-like, slightly drooping branches and handsome brown cones in fall. Drought tolerant and deer resistant, it grows to 4-8 feet in height and 3-4 feet in width, thriving in USDA hardiness zones 5-9.
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Compacta'
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Compacta' is a compact shrub with deep green, shell-shaped foliage that maintains its color through winter. It is pest and disease resistant, requiring no pruning, and can be grown in the ground or containers.
Juniperus horizontalis 'Bar Harbor'
Juniperus horizontalis 'Bar Harbor' is a creeping shrub with blue-gray foliage that turns purple in winter. It spreads up to 8 feet and prefers dry, sandy soil. This plant is heat and pollution tolerant, making it suitable for urban environments, but it does not tolerate wet soils.
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Filicoides'
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Filicoides' is an evergreen with fern-like foliage and a loose, fluffy pyramid shape. It requires no pruning and is perfect for Asian or contemporary gardens. This plant is ideal for hedges, screens, and borders.
Thuja occidentalis 'Golden Globe'
Thuja occidentalis 'Golden Globe' is a naturally round evergreen shrub with dense, golden-yellow foliage. It is well-suited for hedges or borders and tolerates a wide range of soil and sun conditions. The foliage darkens to bronze in winter, and the plant requires periodic deep watering in hot, dry weather.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Black Dragon'
Cryptomeria japonica 'Black Dragon' is a conifer with deep green, almost black foliage and an irregularly narrow growth habit. It can reach 12 feet tall and 3 feet wide in 10 years, making it a striking addition to gardens. This plant is native to Japan and thrives in sun to part sun conditions.
Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Cream Ball'
Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Cream Ball' is a dwarf conifer with a charming fuzzy globe shape. Its silvery white-tipped foliage makes it a standout in small gardens. Over ten years, it can grow to about 3 feet tall and wide. This plant is native to Japan and thrives in sunny to partially shaded areas, attracting butterflies.
Thuja occidentalis 'Sherwood Frost'
Thuja occidentalis 'Sherwood Frost' is a slow-growing evergreen with green foliage tipped in white. It is suitable for a range of climates and thrives in well-drained soil.
Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Gold Dust'
Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Gold Dust' is an upright conical shrub with bright gold tips, especially noticeable in winter. Its ferny foliage adds a unique texture to gardens, and it is well-suited for sunny locations. This false cypress is a great choice for adding year-round interest to landscapes.
Thuja plicata 'Whipcord'
Thuja plicata 'Whipcord' is a unique weeping evergreen shrub native to the Pacific Northwest. Discovered in 1986, it features foliage that changes from glossy green to bronze-green in winter. This slow-growing, deer-resistant plant reaches a mature height and spread of 4 to 5 feet and prefers full to partial sun.
Juniperus virginiana 'Silver Spear'
Juniperus virginiana 'Silver Spear' is a narrow, spear-shaped selection of the native red cedar, reaching 18 feet tall and 2 feet wide in 10 years. This plant is difficult to propagate but is valued for its unique form and drought tolerance. It is suitable for use in living walls and as a thriller in garden designs. Its adaptability to dry conditions makes it a resilient choice for various landscapes.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans Aurea'
Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans Aurea' is a slow-growing, upright tree with a unique golden hue to its winter foliage. Originating from New Zealand, this small tree can reach 8 feet in height over ten years. Its striking color and form make it an excellent choice for adding visual interest to gardens, particularly in sunny or partially shaded areas.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Vilmoriniana'
Cryptomeria japonica 'Vilmoriniana' is a very slow-growing plant with soft green foliage, making it suitable for rock gardens. This plant is ideal for those seeking a low-maintenance, evergreen addition to their garden landscape.
Callitropsis nootkatensis
Callitropsis nootkatensis, also known as the Dwarf Alaska cedar, is an elegant evergreen native to the 49th state. It can reach up to 30 feet at maturity, with arching main branches and hanging secondary branches. This slow-growing tree features muted gold foliage and thrives in heat and humidity, making it a striking specimen for gardens.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Jindai'
Cryptomeria japonica 'Jindai' is a slow-growing evergreen tree that reaches up to 10 feet tall. Its new growth is dusted with creamy white, adding visual interest to gardens. This tree is native to Japan and is well-suited for sunlit areas, making it a popular choice for those seeking a low-maintenance, ornamental evergreen.
Thuja occidentalis 'Golden Tuffet'
Thuja occidentalis 'Golden Tuffet' is a compact, East Coast native conifer with braided golden foliage that takes on an orange hue in cold weather. This low-maintenance shrub never requires pruning and is perfect for adding color to gardens.
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis var. glauca
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis var. glauca is a strong upright tree with slightly weeping branches and blue-green foliage. This plant is native to the United States and attracts butterflies, making it a beautiful addition to sunny gardens.
Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Squarrosa Dumosa'
Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Squarrosa Dumosa' is a grey blue moss cypress originating from the Berlin Botanic Garden around 1890. It forms a round grey ball about 3 feet in diameter with mossy foliage that feels like real rubber. This plant never needs pruning and is a unique addition to any garden.