PLANT FINDER

Other Names:  Oregon Cedar, Port Orford Cedar

Description:

A rigidly upright, tightly columnar variety with distinctive branches extending from the main leader, like a Saguaro cactus; lends an artistic form to the landscape or patio containers; shelter from winds

Ornamental Features

Wissel's Saguaro Lawson Falsecypress is primarily valued in the landscape for its rigidly columnar form. It has attractive powder blue-variegated bluish-green foliage with hints of silver which emerges lime green in spring. The scale-like sprays of foliage are highly ornamental and remain bluish-green throughout the winter. The shaggy antique red bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Wissel's Saguaro Lawson Falsecypress is a dense evergreen tree with a strong central leader and a narrowly upright and columnar growth habit. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Wissel's Saguaro Lawson Falsecypress is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Vertical Accent
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Wissel's Saguaro Lawson Falsecypress will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 70 years or more.

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species.

Wissel's Saguaro Lawson Falsecypress is a fine choice for the yard, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Its large size and upright habit of growth lend it for use as a solitary accent, or in a composition surrounded by smaller plants around the base and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.