Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Ellwoodii’

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Ellwoodii’ detail (11/01/2012, London)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Flowering period: N/A

Soil: Well drained, moist

Eventual Height: 8m

Eventual Spread: 2.5m

Hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Family: Cupressaceae

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Ellwoodii’  is a slow growing, evergreen, columnar shrub/ tree. The  blue/ green leaves are needle like, opposite, with a scaly texture, up to 5mm in length and are produced on flattened shoots. The branches of the plant are upright and erect. The bark of the plant is red/ brown. The seed cones are globose, 7-14 mm in diameter, with 6 to 10 scales, initially green becoming brown with age. 

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Ellwoodii’ is commonly known as Lawson Cypress ‘Ellwoodii’. The species, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, is native to western United States and was introduced into the UK by collectors working for the Lawson and Son nursery of Edinburgh in 1854. Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Ellwoodii’ was discovered as a naturally occurring seedling in Swanmore Park, in Bishop’s Waltham, UK and was first described in 1929.

The etymological root of the binomial name Chamaecyparis is derived from the Greek chamea ’dwarf’ and  kupeiros the ancient Greek name for the Cypress (ironically this is not a dwarf tree). Lawsoniana is named after the Scottish nursery that discovered tree and brought it to the UK. Ellwoodii is derived from the gardener at Swanmore Park, Elwood.

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Ellwoodii’ (11/01/2012, London)

The landscape architect may find  useful Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Ellwoodii’ useful as an evergreen hedge or screening plant, particularly in shady locations. It may also be of use as a vertical accent plant.

Ecologically Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Ellwoodii’ is of little value to wildlife.

The Royal Horticultural Society has given Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Ellwoodii’ their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Ellwoodii’ prefers moist, well-drained soils. It will tolerate most pH of soil although it prefers slightly acid soils.

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Ellwoodii’ requires little maintenance. If being maintained as a hedge it should be trimmed twice a year.

Landscape Architecture

Choisya ternata

Choisya ternata (11//01/2012, Walworth, London)

Position: Full Sun to Partial Shade

Flowering period: Late spring to early summer (I assume  the specimen shown here is a result of our mild winter)

Soil: Well drained

Eventual Height: 3m

Eventual Spread: 2.5m

Hardiness: 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Family: Rutaceae

Choisya ternata is a bushy, rounded evergreen shrub with a dense appearance. The dark green leaves are opposite, glossy, leathery and palmately divided into fans of 3 to 13 leaflets. The individual leaves are up to 8cm long and release a pleasant fragrance when crushed. The star shaped hermaphrodite flowers are pure white with green stigma. They are scented and up to 3cm across . The fruit is a 2 to 6 sectioned leathery capsule.

Choisya ternata flower (11//01/2012, Walworth, London)

Choisya ternata, commonly known as Mexican Orange or Mock Orange is native to southwestern United States and most of Mexico. It was introduced from Mexico into the UK in 1825. The genus was named after Jacques Denis Choisy (1799 – 1859) who was a Swiss botanist and Philosopher in Geneva.

The etymological root of the binomial name Choisya is derived from the surname of Jacques Choisy as mentioned above. Ternata is derived from the Latin ternum ‘three each’, referring to the leaves often appearing in threes.

The landscape architect may find  Choisya ternata useful as an effective, evergreen, medium sized ground cover plant with fragrant flowers, particularly in light shade locations. It is effective when planted en mass due to its low maintenance. It may be planted as both a formal and informal hedge. It is drought and pollution tolerant once established.

Choisya ternata Leaf (03/07/2015, Walworth, London)

Ecologically, Choisya ternata flowers attract the Honey bee and butterflies.

The Royal Horticultural Society has given Choisya ternata their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Choisya ternata prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It will tolerate most pH of soil.

Choisya ternata requires little maintenance. To encourage a second flush of flowers in autumn cut the stems by 25cm after flowering in spring.

 

x Cupressocyparis leylandii

× Cupressocyparis leylandii (11/01/2012, London)

Position: Full Sun

Flowering period: N/A

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 30m

Eventual Spread: 5m

Hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10b

Family: Cupressaceae

x Cupressocyparis leylandii is a fast growing (up to 1m each year), very dense, columnar, evergreen tree. It’s dark green leaves are flattened, with 3mm scales, bearing sharp, straight tips. The Branches of the tree appear near the base of the trunk. The Bark is dull to red/ grey in colour, bearing vertical/criss crossing shallow stringy ridges, it is often hard to see as it’s hidden beneath the foliage. This tree is monoecious. The cones, when produced, are up to 15mm across and are sterile

× Cupressocyparis leylandii detail (11/01/2012, London)

x Cupressocyparis leylandii, commonly known as Leylandii or Leyland Cypress, is the result of the hybridisation of two genus of trees. It has been hybridised several times to make trees of huge vigor. The tree is a cross between Cupressus macrocarpa and Chamaecyparis nootkatensis. This occurred for the first time in Leighton Hall in 1888. As x Cupressocyparis leylandii is a hybrid it is sterile. All plants in circulation in the world today are the result of a cuttings and are clones of one of the 20 original variants. This plant is synonymous with Callitropsis × leylandii. Part of the Anti – Social Behavior Act 2003 is also known as the ‘Leylandii Law’, gives a way for people affected by high hedges of any kind to have them reduced in height. Failure to comply with a notice to reduce the height of a hedge may result in a fine of up to £1,000.

The etymological root of the binomial name Cupressocyparis is derived from Cupressus, the ancient Latin for the Cypress tree and Chamaecyparis the name of the other parent of this tree. Leylandii is derived from the surname of Christopher Leyland who was the original owner of the estate in which this hybrid was developed.

× Cupressocyparis leylandii cones (11/01/2012, London)

The landscape architect may find x Cupressocyparis leylandii useful as a dense, evergreen screening or hedging plant. It also produces a large upright specimen tree. This tree is salt and pollution tolerant

Ecologically  x Cupressocyparis leylandii is of little value to wildlife.

The Royal Horticultural Society has given x Cupressocyparis leylandii their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 2002.

x Cupressocyparis leylandii prefers moist, well-drained soils. This tree tolerates most pH of soil.

x Cupressocyparis leylandii requires little maintenance. If being maintained as a hedge it should be cut in May.