Sungold Sawara Cypress

The Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Sungold', commonly known as the Sungold Sawara Cypress, is an ornamental conifer prized for its bright golden foliage and elegant form. It brings a touch of vibrant colour and interesting texture to gardens and landscapes.

Characteristics

• Foliage: The foliage consists of small, scale-like needles with a striking golden-yellow colour that remains vibrant throughout the year. It is evergreen and offers a soft, feathery texture.
• Flowering: The flowering of this conifer is inconspicuous and not very noticeable. It produces small, globular cones that turn from green to brown as they mature. Flowering occurs in the spring.
• Light: It prefers full sun for optimal development of its golden colour but tolerates partial shade.
• Habit: Its habit is conical and graceful, with slightly drooping branches, giving it an elegant and soft appearance.
• Growth: Growth is considered slow to moderate. It can reach a height of 2 to 4 meters (6 to 13 feet) and a width of 1 to 2 meters (3 to 6 feet) at maturity.
• Humidity: It prefers moderate ambient humidity and well-drained soil.
• Soil: It adapts to a variety of soil types but prefers well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil.
• Temperature: It is generally hardy and tolerates cold well.
• Watering: Regular watering is necessary, especially during dry periods and in the first year after planting. Once established, it tolerates some drought.

Uses

• Usage Types: It is ideal as a specimen plant to showcase its shape and colour, in mass plantings to create contrasts, in rock gardens to add height and texture, or even in pots for patios and balconies.
• Decorative Advantages: Its bright golden-yellow colour brings remarkable luminosity and warmth to the garden, creating an interesting focal point, even in winter. Its fine texture and elegant habit add an additional aesthetic dimension.

Care

• Fertilization: A light fertilization in the spring with a balanced conifer fertilizer can be beneficial, especially for young plants.
• Pruning: Pruning is generally not necessary, except to remove dead or damaged branches, or to maintain a specific shape. It is best to prune in late winter or early spring.
• Repotting: If grown in a pot, repotting may be necessary every 2 to 3 years in the spring, into a slightly larger pot with good conifer potting mix.
• Propagation: Propagation can be done by taking semi-hardwood stem cuttings in the summer or by layering.