‘Spirited’ Golden Hinoki Cypress

Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Spirited’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5a-8b (9a?) Find Your Zone

Shrub Type: Coniferous Evergreen Tree

Height at Maturity: 6-8′

Width at Maturity: 3-4′

Spacing: Use as specimen or in pairs to accentuate an entryway

Growth Habit / Form: Upright, Pyramidal, Pendulous Branchlets

Growth Rate: Slow; 4″ per year

Flower Color: None

Flower Size: NA

Flowering Period: NA

Flower Type: NA

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Golden

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: No

Berry Color: NA

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun, Morning Sun with Light Afternoon Shade, Morning Shade with Evening Sun

Water Needs: Average; Low when established

Soil Type: Clay (amend heavy clay to ensure good drainage), Loam, Silt, Sand (amend quick draining soils for moisture retention)

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well Drained to Dry when established

Soil pH: 5.5 – 7.5 (Acid to Neutral)

Maintenance / Care: Very Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer, Disease, Drought, Dry Soil, Heat, Insect, Mildew

Description

Discovered conifer expert Paul Jones of North Carolina, the ‘Spirited’ Golden Hinoki Cypress is a seedling from the classic Crippsii Golden Cypress. Spirited has the same color, upright pyramidal form and elegant habit as Crippsii but everything about the plant is 1/4 the size, making it a good fit for smaller garden spaces and containers. Like its parent, the foliage is intense golden-yellow in full sun and becomes a soft chartreuse with more shade. Unlike some other golden cypresses, the foliage does not burn in direct sun. One of the best new Hinoki cypress selections that we’ve come across, Spirited in one of those excellent plants that can make a landscape excellent.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing slowly in an upright pyramidal form 6 to 8 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide at the base, the Spirited Golden Hinoki Cypress is ideal for use as a focal point specimen or in small groupings in small to medium size landscape spaces, home foundation plantings. Its smaller stature makes it a fine selection for pots, planters and other containers. We don’t suggest using this beauty as a hedge, which would take away from its magnificent appeal as a focal point. A fine addition to conifer gardens, yellow theme gardens, and Asian theme gardens.

Growing Preferences

Spirited Golden Hinoki Cypress prefers a moist but well-drained soil of average fertility and full sun to part shade. Foliage color will be more intense with more sun. Constantly soggy or wet soil can be problematic. This cypress is a slow-grower that doesn’t drink much water, so be careful to avoid overwatering. When the plant is young, check soil moisture and provide supplemental water only if necessary to keep the soil damp to moist, but not wet. It has good drought tolerance when established and would only need supplemental irrigation during prolonged period of dry weather. A light feeder, fertilize lightly in spring with a slow-release shrub and tree type fertilizer or a mild, organic plant food. Except to remove a stray or damaged plant part, no pruning is ever required.

Helpful Articles

Click on the link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Cypress.

How To Plant & Care For Cypress Shrubs & Trees

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