Chamaecyparis lawsoniana
Lawson Cypress
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Chamaecyparis genus in the family Cupressaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Cupressaceae
- Genus
- Chamaecyparis
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- moderate
- Height
- 25 m
- Spread
- 4 m
- Fertility
- Wind
- Flower type
- monoecious
- Pollinators
- Wind
Uses
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The resin is a powerful diuretic[12][14][19].
- Product or use
- Diuretic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Plants can be grown as a tall hedge[11][16][6] They are very tolerant of clipping so long as this does not extend into the brown barked wood since trees cannot regenerate from this[6]. Any trimming should be done in the summer[6]. Certain dwarf forms can be used for ground cover, the cultivars 'Knowefieldensis', 'Nidiformis' and 'Tamariscifolia' have been recommended[7]. The branches have been used to make brooms[10]. Wood - very close-grained, hard, strong, durable, easily worked, light, abounding in fragrant resin, acid resistant. One of the world's finest timbers, it is widely used for flooring, fencing, making boats etc[12][14][19][4]. It is now in short supply due to over-harvesting without replanting[6].
- Product or use
- Broom
- Product or use
- Resin
- Product or use
- Wood
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Canopy, Soil surface
Environment
- Range
- Western N. America - Oregon to California. Locally naturalized in S. Europe[13].
- Habitat
- Usually scattered in small groves on moist slopes and canyons, often on serpentine soils, below 1500 metres. Seldom more than 50 kilometres from the coast[15][19].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 6+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- high wind, drought
- Wind
- Yes
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow March/April in a seedbed outdoors[17]. The seed is best sown in pots in a frame[K]. Seed can take 18 months to germinate. One month warm then one month cold stratification has produced good results[3]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter, planting them out in late spring after the last expected frosts. Cuttings in late summer or autumn in sandy soil in a cold frame[1][2][6]. Difficult, it may be best done in late winter to early spring[3].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in most soils and situations, but prefers a moist deep loamy soil and a sheltered position[1][2]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Survives on dry alkaline soils[6]. Growth of trees is hardly affected by a lack of phosphate in the soil. Plants are moderately shade tolerant, especially when young[18][6]. Plants are tolerant of atmospheric pollution according to one report[6], whilst another says that they do not do well in a polluted atmosphere[1]. A fairly wind tolerant plant, but it does not like severe maritime exposure[16]. Plants are susceptible to wind burn and recover variably[16]. This species is hardy to about -25°c[6]. A fairly long-lived tree in the wild with specimens 500 - 600 years old[8]. It is a very valuable timber tree in N. America and it is sometimes cultivated as a forestry tree in Britain, where it occasionally self-sows[1][2]. It establishes well and grows quickly. New shoots can make 1 metre in a year but trees rarely maintain that rate and 30cm is nearer the average[5]. New growth starts very slowly in April, speeds up in June and ceases in September[5]. A very uniform species in the wild[6], in cultivation it is polymorphic and there are many named varieties[1][5][6]. The crushed foliage has a pungent smell[9]. Favoured by many birds for roosting, providing high cover and especially for nesting, large specimens of this tree help to attract songbirds to the garden[6]. Trees are notably susceptible to honey fungus[6].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009
Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00
Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-11-710012-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1
Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Shepherd. F.W. Hedges and Screens. Royal Horticultural Society. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0900629649
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Munz. A California Flora. University of California Press 1959-00-00
Rosewarne experimental horticultural station. Shelter Trees and Hedges. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1984-00-00
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00
Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7470-2801-X
Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X