chamaecyparis pisifera
Scientific Name – Chamaecyparis pisifera
Native to Japan, it is uncommon to find this tree with a number of cultivars such as ‘Plumosa’ being a lot more common and regularly located in parks, gardens and churchyards.
Sawara Cypress has a rich chestnut brown bark with narrow, deep fissures that run parallel to one another. It has a loosely conical growth pattern while it sometimes has an open crown. Branches are generally level but may bend downwards to form layers at the base. Leaves are a bright, shiny green and are shiny white at the base beneath. When crushed the foliage release an acrid, resinous smell. It is a slow growing tree, rarely growing more than 20cm a year.
