Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Lutea’

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Lutea’ leaf (02/01/2012, Vsetin, Czech Republic)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Flowering period: Spring

Soil: Well drained, moist

Eventual Height: 15m

Eventual Spread: 4m

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

Family: Cupressaceae

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Lutea’ is a densely columnar, uniform evergreen tree. The yellow-green leaves are arranged in feathery flat sprays, are scale like, are 2mm wide, these produce a sour parsley scent when crushed. The bark is reddish/ purplish and spongy and fibrous in vertical strips. This tree is monoecious and flowers in spring, the male flowers are white and turn red. The female cones are initially green, maturing to brown, are up to 1cm across and ripen in the first year after pollination.

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Lutea’ (02/01/2012, Vsetin, Czech Republic)

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Lutea’ is commonly known as the Lawson Cypress ‘Lutea’. The species, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana  is native to western United States. In the USA the species tree is threatened by the fungal pathogen Phytophtora lateralis both in the wild and in horticultural planting. As the spores of Phytophtora lateralis are spread through water, trees located near water are more susceptible to this pathogen.

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. Lutea is from the Latin meaning ‘yellow’ or ‘saffron’.

The landscape architect may find Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Lutea’ as a large specimen evergreen tree, particularly in shady locations. It may also be planted and maintained as an effective evergreen hedge.

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Lutea’ cones (02/01/2012, Vsetin, Czech Republic)

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

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

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

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Lutea’ requires little maintenance.

Landscape Architecture

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (30/12/14, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Flowering period: Spring

Soil: Well drained, moist

Eventual Height: 40m

Eventual Spread: 8m

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

Family: Cupressaceae

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana Leaf (30/12/14, Kew Gardens, London)

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana is a fast growing, densely columnar, large, uniform evergreen tree. The mid-green leaves are arranged in feathery flat sprays, are scale like, are 2mm wide, these produce a sour parsley scent when crushed. The trunk may achieve a diameter of 2m. The bark is reddish/ purplish and spongy and fibrous in vertical strips. This tree is monoecious and flowers in spring, the male flowers are white and turn red. The female cones are initially green, maturing to brown, are up to 1cm across and ripen in the first year after pollination.

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, commonly known as the Lawson Cypress or Port Oxford Cedar (although it is not a Cedar), is native to western United States. It was introduced into the UK by collectors working for the Lawson and Son nursery of Edinburgh in 1854. In the USA this tree is threatened by the fungal pathogen Phytophtora lateralis both in the wild and in horticultural planting. As the spores of Phytophtora lateralis are spread through water, trees located near water are more susceptible to this pathogen. It is considered to be ‘vulnerable’ according to ‘The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species’. This species is the parent of approximately 200 cultivars.

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana Seed (30/12/14, Kew Gardens, London)

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.

The landscape architect may find Chamaecyparis lawsoniana useful as a large specimen evergreen tree, particularly in shady locations. It may also be planted and maintained as an effective evergreen hedge.

Ecologically Chamaecyparis lawsoniana is of little value to wildlife.

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana Bark (30/12/14, Kew Gardens, London)

The Royal Horticultural Society has given many of the Chamaecyparis lawsoniana cultivars their prestigious Award of Garden Merit but not the species.

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana prefers moist, well-drained soils. It will tolerate most pH of soil.

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana requires little maintenance. If maintaining as a hedge it should be cut outside of the bird nesting season. It will not tolerate hard pruning.

Ligustrum lucidum ‘Excelsum Superbum’

Ligustrum lucidum ‘Excelsum Superbum’ leaf (17/12/2011, London)

Position: Sun to Partial Shade

Flowering Period: Late Summer

Soil: Well Drained, Moist

Eventual Height: 8m

Eventual Spread: 6m

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

Family: Oleaceae

Ligustrum lucidum ‘Excelsum Superbum’ is an evergreen tree with a rounded canopy. The leaves are opposite, with a sharp terminal point  and entire margins. They are up to 13cm long and 6cm broad. The variegated leaves are dark green and mottled with light green and edged with creamy-yellow and have leathery texture. The stems are smooth and pale grey/ brown. Its white flowers have a four lobed corolla, are up to 6mm long and arranged in upright panicles which are 20cm long. Its  fruit is an oval drupe which is 6mm long and ripens to purple/ black.

Ligustrum lucidum ‘Excelsum Superbum’, commonly known as Chinese Privet ‘Excelsum Superbum’, Glossy Privet, Wax Tree Privet or Broad-leaf Privet, is native to southern China. The species Ligustrum lucidum is considered a noxious weed in New South Wales, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and California, Texas and Florida in the USA.

The etymological root of the binomial name Ligustrum is derived from the ancient Latin ligula which was the name for Privet. Lucidum is derived from the Latin meaning ‘bright, clear or shining’, in reference to the leaves.

Ligustrum lucidum ‘Excelsum Superbum’ (17/12/2011, London)

The landscape architect may find Ligustrum lucidum ‘Excelsum Superbum’ useful a small evergreen tree. It is also effective as an evergreen hedge with has attractive large glossy variegated leaves. It is regarded as evergreen in the south of the UK, whilst being semi-evergreen in the reminder of the UK. Once established it is moderately drought tolerant. This plant is also suitable for urban planting due to it’s pollution tolerance. Although this tree is shade tolerant the variegation of the leaves are brighter if located in full sun.

Ecologically, the seeds of Ligustrum lucidum ‘Excelsum Superbum’ are eaten by birds and the flowers are attractive to bees.

The Royal Horticultural Society has given Ligustrum lucidum ‘Excelsum Superbum’ their it their prestigious award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Ligustrum lucidum ‘Excelsum Superbum’ is tolerant of most soils as long as they are well drained. It is tolerant of most pH of soil. It will not tolerate waterlogged soils.

Ligustrum lucidum ‘Excelsum Superbum’ requires little maintenance.

Landscape Architecture