About
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Butterball' is a compact, slowly developing conifer that matures to a rounded shape, reaching about 60 cm in height and width. It features dense clusters of yellow, scale-like foliage that transition to a yellow-green hue toward the center of the plant.
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
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, East-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H7
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs, Conifers
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 0.5-1 metres
- Spread
- 0.5-1 metres
- Time to full height
- 20-50 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Patio and container plants, Rock garden
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grows well in moist but well-drained soils; tolerant of chalk soils but prefers slightly acidic conditions
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by grafting and by 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