Practical
Plants

Chamaecyparis nootkatensis

Nootka Cypress

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Chamaecyparis genus in the family Cupressaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
moderate
Height
15 m
Spread
6 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 plant has been used in sweat baths for treating rheumatism and arthritis[10]. An infusion of the branch tips has been used as a wash for sores and swellings[10]. A poultice of the crushed leaves has been applied to sores[10]. The soft bark has been used as a cover for poultices[10].

Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Miscellany
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Skin

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Plants can be grown as a tall hedge[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]. The fibre of the inner bark is fine and soft, it is pounded and spun then used for making blankets, clothing, capes, mats etc[18][7][10]. Torn into pieces, it can be used as bandages or for washing babies[7]. The finely shredded inner bark can be used as a tinder[10]. Wood - hard, very durable, fragrant with an agreeable resinous odour, close grained, has low-shrinkage, is somewhat brittle, but does not splinter. Easily worked, it is used for carving, cabinet work, making boats, implements etc[1][11][14][17][18][4][7].

Product or use
Fibre
Product or use
Tinder
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Hedge

Environment

Range
Western N. America - Alaska to Oregon.
Habitat
Woodlands from sea-level to 1,000 metres[13][17]. The best specimens are found in the deep soil of cool wet coastal forests[7].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind
Wind
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow March/April in a seedbed outdoors[15]. 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]. Does not grow well on peat or shallow chalky soils[2]. Growth of trees is hardly affected by a lack of phosphate in the soil. Plants are moderately shade tolerant, especially when young[16][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]. Plants are hardy to about -35c, they also tolerate low summer temperatures[6]. A very polymorphic species, there are many named varieties[6]. This species establishes well and grows fairly quickly when young[2]. Trees can reach 20 metres tall in 35 years but growth slows as the trees get older[5]. It is cultivated as a timber tree in Europe[12]. Trees in the wild can live for 1,000 years or longer[7], one specimen is believed to be 3,500 years old[8]. This longevity is probably due to the presence of toxic chemical compounds from microscopic fungi concentrated in the heartwood[7]. The wood and foliage have an acrid odour[7]. The bruised foliage releases a smell of turpentine[9]. Favoured by many birds for roosting, 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

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  3. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2

  4. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩

  5. Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-11-710012-9

    ↩

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11

  7. Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0889025649

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  8. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩

  9. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  10. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  11. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  12. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  13. Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955-00-00

    ↩

  14. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  15. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

  16. Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7470-2801-X

    ↩

  17. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩1↩2

  18. Turner. N. J. Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology. British Columbia Provincial Museum 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-7718-8117-7

    ↩1↩2

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