Practical
Plants

Chamaecyparis thyoides

White 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
slow
Height
10 m
Spread
3 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.

A decoction of the leaves has been used as a herbal steam for treating headaches and backaches[9]. A poultice made from the crushed leaves and bark has been applied to the head to treat headaches[9].

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]. Wood - soft, not strong, close grained, very durable, easily worked, light, slightly fragrant. It weighs 21lb per cubic foot. It is commonly used for woodenware, cooperage, fence posts, interior finish of houses etc[10][11][12][15][4][8]. Wood found buried in swamps for hundreds of years is perfectly sound and not water-logged[2].

Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Hedge

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Maine, south to Florida and west to Mississippi.
Habitat
Cold, swampy often inundated ground, frequently forming dense pure forests[2][10][14][15]. The best specimens are found in acid peat beds[7].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
very acid, 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[13]. 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 abundant moisture and a 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[14][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]. This species is especially well adapted for planting in cold wet places[1]. Plants are hardy to about -35°c[6]. A long-lived tree in the wild with specimens more than 1,000 years old[7]. It is slow growing in cultivation[6], trees rarely grow more than 20cm in a year[5]. The branches become brittle with age[1]. A very polymorphic species, there are many named varieties[6]. The crushed foliage has a rather gingery hot aroma[5]. 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↩5

  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

    ↩1↩2

  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↩12

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

    ↩1↩2

  8. Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

  10. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

  15. 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

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