Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ('Roger's Gold') 'MINIMA AUREA'

Lawson cypress is native to northwestern America, from Oregon to northern California. It was first discovered by European Americans near Port Orford, Oregon, and was introduced to horticultural market in 1854. It was described by the Scottish botanist Andrew Murray (1812-1878) and named after another Scottish botanist and merchant, Charles Lawson (1795-1873), who became famous by importing new plant species from America to Britain. This cypress tree was one of his discoveries. It is a hardy, evergreen conifer with soft, scale-like needles. Perhaps all over the world in temperate climates, it is widely planted in gardens and parks and is popular for its variability. There are many colourful varieties that brighten up compositions of dark green shrubs and trees and perform also in decorative outdoor containers.

Minima Aurea (syn. Roger’s Gold) is a dwarf variety of Lawson cypress. Its new growths are very light yellow and they turn rich golden yellow and yellow-green in summer. Young plants are rather rounded and from the age of 5-7 years they make a more prominent central leader owing to which mature plants will form a widely pyramidal shape in 20-30 years.

It grows very slowly and so dense that any pruning is technically out of the question. Unless you want to shape it, obviously, in which case you can cut it in April or in midsummer.

Lawson cypress prefers moist but well-drained, slightly acidic soil but is adaptable to almost all types of soil. Grow it in full sun or half shade either in a garden bed or in an outdoor pot. Fully hardy to about -28°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 06-02- 2013