Plant Profile: Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii'

Names

Golden Hinoke Cypress

  • Photo of Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii' (Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii's)

Phonetic Spelling:kam-ay-SIP-a-ris ob-TOO-sa

Genus:Chamaecyparis

Species:obtusa

Family:Cupressaceae

The Golden Hinoke Cypress is an evergreen tree native to Asia, characterized by its broadly conical shape. Its branches extend outward, adorned with cascading sprays of vibrant foliage that add a striking golden hue to winter landscapes, and this beauty persists throughout the year. The tree grows in an upright manner, with the inner foliage transitioning to a yellow shade, while the tips remain green, creating a pleasing two-toned appearance.

This tree thrives in sunny to partially shaded environments, preferring acidic, well-drained, and moist loamy soils. The most vivid golden coloration is achieved when it receives full sunlight. It is resilient enough to withstand occasional flooding and deer browsing. With a growth rate that ranges from slow to moderate, the Golden Hinoke Cypress serves well as a specimen tree, in bonsai arrangements, and in settings near water features like ponds and streams. When positioned in the background of a perennial garden, its golden foliage provides a stunning visual contrast.

For further details on Chamaecyparis obtusa, please refer to additional resources.

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii' Feature Summary

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii' Image Gallery

Tags

#evergreen
#specimen
#easy to grow
#slow growing
#conifer
#bonsai
#winter interest
#cottage garden
#windbreak
#year-round interest
#hedges
#privacy
#deer resistant
#screening
#asian garden
#yellow needles

Similar Plants

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii' Feature Summary

Attributes
Leaves
Grown for foliage: sprays of tiny feathery, bright golden-yellow scale-like foliage on frond-like spreading branches; green within the plant; good winter color.
Green
Gold/Yellow
Needles
Bark
Shredding, reddish-brown bark which peels off in long narrow strips.
Shredding
Peeling
Whole Plant Traits
Erect
Pyramidal
Dense
Spreading
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Occasionally Dry
Occasional Flooding
12-24 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Winter Garden
Cottage Garden
Garden for the Blind
Asian Garden
Hedge
Screen/Privacy
Small groups
Specimen
Woodland
Lawn
Pond
Songbirds

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii' Attributes

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Wildlife Value

Deer resistant

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii' Leaves

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Leaf Description

Grown for foliage: sprays of tiny feathery, bright golden-yellow scale-like foliage on frond-like spreading branches; green within the plant; good winter color.

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Leaf Color

spa
Gold/Yellow
spa
Green

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Hairs Present

No
Yes

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii' Bark

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Bark Description

Shredding, reddish-brown bark which peels off in long narrow strips.

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Surface/Attachment

Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii' Whole Plant Traits

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii' Cultural Conditions

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii' Stem

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii' Landscape

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii': Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees