Cypress Sun Gold

Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Sungold'

Common Name: Sawara Cypress or Golden Mop

'Sungold' is a distinctive and beautiful dwarf mounding Sawara Cypress with golden chartreuse foliage that does not burn in full sun. Its shaggy, threadleaf evergreen foliage is sure to brighten up the landscape while adding unique texture and weeping habit. You can expect it to reach 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide in 10 years and maybe 6 feet tall by 8 to 10 feet wide at maturity. A fine accent accent in smaller garden spaces or in spaced groupings in larger spaces at 10 feet or more apart. Excellent in Japanese or Zen gardens. Sungold is a low to no maintenance plant that thrives in full sun or part shade and the deer turn their nose up to it. The brightest foliage color comes with more sun. We suggest at least 5 hours of direct sunlight per day.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 5 to 6 feet tall and 8 to 10 feet wide at maturity, the Sungold Sawara False Cypress is ideal for use as an eye-catching specimen in landscape borders and home foundation plantings or groupings in larger landscape borders. A fine addition to conifer gardens, rock gardens, Asian and Zen theme gardens, yellow theme gardens and the Xeriscape (low water needs).

Spacing:  12 feet or more apart for space between plants

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 3a-7b (8 in cool-summer climates)

Shrub Type: Coniferous Evergreen Shrub 

Height at Maturity: to 3' in 10 years, 5-6' at maturity

Width at Maturity: 4-4.5' in 10 years, 8-10' at maturity

Spacing:  12'+ for space between plants

Growth Habit / Form: Mounding, Arching, Broad, Pendulous

Growth Rate: Slow

Flower Color: None

Flower Size:  NA

Flowering Period: NA

Flower Type: NA

Fragrant Flowers:  No

Foliage Color: Golden new leaves turning to Chartreuse or Lime Green; brighter in full sun

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries:  No

Berry Color: NA

Sun Needs: Full Sun, Morning Sun with Light Afternoon Shade, Morning Shade with Evening Sun

Water Needs:  Average

Soil Type:  Clay (Amend heavy clay to ensure good drainage), Loam, Silt, Sandy

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well Drained; moderate drought tolerance when established

Soil pH: 5.5 – 7.5 (Acid to Neutral)

Maintenance / Care: Very Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Cold Temperatures (-40F), Deer- Disease, Drought (moderate when established), Insect, Rabbit