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Chamaecyparis nootkatensis
  • Nootka Cypress

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

Niche
  • Canopy
    Canopy
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • Hedge
    Hedge
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline,very alkaline
    Acid to Very alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Heavy clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 5
    Zone 5
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis has 0 material uses listed
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

There are no edible uses listed for Chamaecyparis nootkatensis.

Material uses

Plants can be grown as a tall hedge[1] They are very tolerant of clipping so long as this does not extend into the brown barked wood since trees cannot regenerate from this[1]. Any trimming should be done in the summer[1].

The fibre of the inner bark is fine and soft, it is pounded and spun then used for making blankets, clothing, capes, mats etc[2][3][4]. Torn into pieces, it can be used as bandages or for washing babies[3]. The finely shredded inner bark can be used as a tinder[4].

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[5][6][7][8][2][9][3].

Unknown part

Fibre
Tinder
Wood

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The plant has been used in sweat baths for treating rheumatism and arthritis[4].

An infusion of the branch tips has been used as a wash for sores and swellings[4]. A poultice of the crushed leaves has been applied to sores[4].

The soft bark has been used as a cover for poultices[4].

Unknown part

Antirheumatic
Miscellany
Poultice
Skin

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Canopy

Ecological Functions

Hedge

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow March/April in a seedbed outdoors[10]. 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[11]. 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[5][12][1]. Difficult, it may be best done in late winter to early spring[11].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Chamaecyparis nootkatensis. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils and situations, but prefers a moist deep loamy soil and a sheltered position[5][12]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Survives on dry alkaline soils[1]. Does not grow well on peat or shallow chalky soils[12]. Growth of trees is hardly affected by a lack of phosphate in the soil. Plants are moderately shade tolerant, especially when young[13][1]. Plants are tolerant of atmospheric pollution according to one report[1], whilst another says that they do not do well in a polluted atmosphere[5].

Plants are hardy to about -35c, they also tolerate low summer temperatures[1]. A very polymorphic species, there are many named varieties[1]. This species establishes well and grows fairly quickly when young[12]. Trees can reach 20 metres tall in 35 years but growth slows as the trees get older[14]. It is cultivated as a timber tree in Europe[15]. Trees in the wild can live for 1,000 years or longer[3], one specimen is believed to be 3,500 years old[16]. This longevity is probably due to the presence of toxic chemical compounds from microscopic fungi concentrated in the heartwood[3]. The wood and foliage have an acrid odour[3]. The bruised foliage releases a smell of turpentine[17]. Favoured by many birds for roosting, high cover and especially for nesting, large specimens of this tree help to attract songbirds to the garden[1].

Trees are notably susceptible to honey fungus[1].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Chamaecyparis nootkatensis. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Chamaecyparis nootkatensis.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis
Genus
Chamaecyparis
Family
Cupressaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
Medicinal uses
[4]
Material uses & Functions
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Botanic
[12][18][1]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Hedge
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
5
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
  • Strong wind
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
Canopy
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
evergreen
Herbaceous or Woody
woody
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
moderate
Mature Size
15 x 6 meters
Fertility
?
Pollinators
Wind
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
monoecious











References

  1. ? 1.001.011.021.031.041.051.061.071.081.091.101.111.12 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  2. ? 2.02.12.2 Turner. N. J. Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology. British Columbia Provincial Museum ISBN 0-7718-8117-7 (1979-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.43.53.6 Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. ISBN 0889025649 (1989-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.44.54.64.7 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.4 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
  6. ? 6.06.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
  7. ? 7.07.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
  8. ? 8.08.1 Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. ISBN 0-486-20278-X (1965-00-00)
  9. ? 9.09.1 Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (1952-00-00)
  10. ? Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)
  11. ? 11.011.1 Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press ISBN 0942375009 (1987-00-00)
  12. ? 12.012.112.212.312.4 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
  13. ? Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm ISBN 0-7470-2801-X (1987-00-00)
  14. ? Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO ISBN 0-11-710012-9 (1975-00-00)
  15. ? ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press (1964-00-00)
  16. ? Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. ISBN 0442238622 (1980-00-00)
  17. ? Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 (1994-00-00)
  18. ? Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press (1955-00-00)


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Facts about "Chamaecyparis nootkatensis"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyCupressaceae +
Belongs to genusChamaecyparis +
Functions asHedge +
Has common nameNootka Cypress +
Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
Has environmental toleranceHigh wind +
Has fertility typeWind +
Has flowers of typeMonoecious +
Has growth rateModerate +
Has hardiness zone5 +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has material partUnknown part +
Has material useFibre +, Tinder + and Wood +
Has mature height15 +
Has mature width6 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useAntirheumatic +, Miscellany +, Poultice + and Skin +
Has search namechamaecyparis nootkatensis + and x +
Has shade toleranceLight shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral +, Alkaline + and Very alkaline +
Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
Has soil teheavy clayture preferenceHeavy clay +
Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomy nameChamaecyparis nootkatensis +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Inhabits ecosystem nicheCanopy +
Is deciduous or evergreenEvergreen +
Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Tolerates windYes +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +