About

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Bronze Pygmy' is a compact evergreen conifer characterized by its horizontally spreading branches that create a broad, mounded shape. In spring, the foliage displays a yellow-bronze hue, shifting to green during the summer months and transitioning to a coppery-orange in winter.

About the genus

Chamaecyparis consists of evergreen trees that typically exhibit a narrow ovoid or columnar shape. They feature densely branched sprays of diminutive scale-like foliage and produce small, rounded cones. In certain cultivars, the tiny red male cones are particularly noticeable.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Full sun, Partial shade
Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Acid, Neutral
Soil moisture
Moist but well-drained
Aspect
South-facing, West-facing, East-facing
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness
H6

Plant details

Plant type
Conifers, Shrubs
Habit
Spreading branched
Foliage
Evergreen
Height
1-1.5 metres
Spread
1.5-2.5 metres
Time to full height
5-10 years
Suggested uses
Rock garden

Care notes

Cultivation
Grow in full sun to partial shade in moist but well drained soil.
Pruning
No pruning required
Propagation
Propagate by grafting or semi-hardwood cuttings
Pest resistance
May be susceptible to aphids, juniper scale and shoot-boring moths
Disease resistance
May be susceptible to honey fungus and Phytophthora root diseases