Great Plant Pick: Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Kosteri’

Published 1:30 am Friday, July 1, 2022

What: Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Kosteri’ is a beautiful conifer, slow growing and loosely pyramidal in habit, with glossy, dark green foliage that twists, creating a sumptuous texture. The branches grow in a graceful layered habit which add to the elegance of this tight, dense grower. It is an excellent choice for growing as a container plant.

Where: Hinoki cypress will grow best in full sun but tolerates light to dappled shade. It adapts to a variety of soils, from sandy sites to clay, provided the location is well-drained.

Size: Grows to 4 feet high by 5 feet wide in 10 years.

Care: Once established it is very drought tolerant, requiring little to no summer watering even during prolonged droughts. It requires very little pruning and heavy pruning can ruin its unique appearance. Only prune to remove dead, broken or poorly formed branches.

— greatplantpicks.org