Lawson's Cypress Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Pelt's Blue'
ABOUT
Pelt's Blue, also known simply as Lawson's cypress, is a conifer with a distinctive appearance. It has a lush, pyramidal shape with densely packed foliage, making it an attractive specimen for ornamental purposes. The foliage of Pelt's Blue is particularly notable for its vibrant blue-green hue that retains its color throughout the year. Each scale-like leaf overlaps the next, contributing to the plant's intricate texture and plush appearance. The evergreen's branches grow somewhat horizontally, giving it a slightly tiered look as they ascend the central trunk. At the tips, the branches may arch upwards, showcasing the silvery-blue undersides of the leaves, which can add a shimmering effect to the plant's overall look, especially under the sunlight. The cones of Pelt's Blue are small and inconspicuous, often hidden within the dense foliage. When present, they are usually brownish and blend in with the rest of the plant, not drawing attention away from the striking foliage. The bark is reddish-brown and typically develops a rugged, furrowed texture with age. Pelt's Blue has a compact growth habit, making it suitable for smaller spaces where a touch of year-round color and texture is desired. This Lawson's cypress cultivar is often used in landscaping for hedges, screens, or as a standalone specimen, offering a serene yet eye-catching element to gardens and parks.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Cupressaceae
Synonyms
Lawson's Cypress, Oregon Cedar, Blue Lawson's Cypress, Pelt's Blue Lawson Cypress
Common names
Cupressus lawsoniana, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana.
ToxicityTo humans
The plant in question, commonly known as Port Orford cedar, is not generally considered toxic to humans. However, like many plants, ingesting it is not advisable as it is not meant for consumption and may cause stomach upset or discomfort. There are no widely recognized severe symptoms associated with poisoning from this plant for humans when touched or ingested in small amounts.
To pets
For pets, the Port Orford cedar is also not typically considered highly toxic. However, if a pet were to ingest a large amount of the plant, they could potentially experience gastrointestinal upset, such as vomiting or diarrhea. As with any non-food plant, pet owners should prevent their pets from eating this plant to avoid any potential discomfort or adverse reactions.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Evergreen
Color of leaves
Blue-green
Height
6-8 feet (1.8-2.4 meters)
Spread
3-4 feet (0.9-1.2 meters)
Plant type
Tree
Hardiness zones
5-8
Native area
North America
Benefits
General Benefits- Aesthetic Appeal: The smokey blue-green foliage of Lawson's Cypress 'Pelt's Blue' makes it a visually attractive addition to landscapes.
- Ease of Cultivation: It is relatively easy to grow, requiring minimal maintenance once established.
- Privacy Screen: It can be used to create a natural privacy screen due to its dense foliage.
- Noise Reduction: The thick foliage can help dampen noise, making it a good choice for urban or suburban gardens.
- Windbreak: Its ability to withstand wind makes it useful as a windbreak to protect other plants or areas from strong winds.
- Habitat: It provides shelter and nesting sites for birds and other wildlife.
- Soil Erosion Control: The plant's root system helps to prevent soil erosion, especially in sloped areas.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, it exhibits good drought tolerance, reducing the need for frequent watering.
- Seasonal Interest: It maintains its color and presence year-round, offering winter interest in the landscape.
- Adaptability: Lawson's Cypress 'Pelt's Blue' is adaptable to a range of soil types, though it prefers well-drained soils.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Woodcraft: The wood of Lawson's Cypress is valued for its durability and workability, making it suitable for woodworking projects such as cabinetry and decorative objects.
- Landscape Design: Specimens can be used as focal points or to create vertical accents in landscape architecture, bringing a unique silvery-blue color to gardens.
- Hedges: Due to its dense growth habit, Lawson's Cypress 'Pelt's Blue' can be pruned into formal or informal hedges, providing privacy and wind protection.
- Topiary: Its dense foliage and growth pattern make it a good candidate for topiary art, where it can be trained into various shapes and forms.
- Aromatic Oils: The tree's foliage can be processed to extract aromatic compounds for use in perfumes, scented candles, and other aromatic products.
- Theme Gardens: It can be incorporated into conifer collection gardens or dwarf conifer gardens due to its distinctive color and habit.
- Sound Barrier: When planted in rows, Lawson's Cypress can act as a sound barrier to reduce road noise in residential areas.
- Holiday Decor: Branches may be harvested for use in holiday wreaths and other seasonal decorations due to their attractive foliage and color.
- Bonsai: With the appropriate training and pruning techniques, Lawson's Cypress can be grown as bonsai, making it a living piece of art.
- Photography: The unique appearance of 'Pelt's Blue' provides photographers with a distinctive subject for plant and garden photography collections.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Lawson Cypress is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Lawson Cypress is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Longevity: Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, commonly known as the Lawson cypress or Port Orford cedar, is revered for its long lifespan, signifying endurance and the ability to withstand the test of time.
- Protection: Its wood is valued for its resistance to decay and insects, symbolizing strength and protection against adversity.
- Purity: The Lawson cypress is often associated with purity due to its clean and refreshing scent, similar to that of cedarwood, which is used for purification practices in various cultures.
- Peace: The evergreen nature of the cypress represents eternal peace and the connotation of harmony with nature and tranquility.
- Healing: Historically, coniferous trees like the Lawson cypress have been connected with healing properties, both medicinal and spiritual, symbolizing restoration and rejuvenation.
WaterLawson's Cypress 'Pelt's Blue' prefers consistently moist soil, so it's crucial to establish a regular watering schedule. Water the plant deeply once a week, providing about 1 to 2 gallons for smaller shrubs, and up to 5 gallons for larger ones, ensuring water reaches the root zone. During particularly hot or dry spells, increase watering frequency to twice a week. In the winter, reduce watering but do not allow the soil to become completely dry. Always check the soil moisture before watering to prevent overwatering—a few inches below the surface should be moist, not saturated.
LightLawson's Cypress 'Pelt's Blue' thrives best in locations that receive full sun to partial shade. This means it should be placed in an area where it can get at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. However, it can also tolerate spots with dappled light or light shade, particularly in hotter climates to prevent scorching.
TemperatureLawson's Cypress 'Pelt's Blue' is hardy and can survive in temperatures as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The ideal temperature range for this conifer is between 40 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, which promotes healthy growth without causing heat stress or frost damage. Sheltering the plant from harsh winter winds can help prevent cold injury.
PruningLawson's Cypress 'Pelt's Blue' requires minimal pruning, mainly to shape the plant or remove any damaged or diseased branches. Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring, before new growth starts. Monitor the plant's shape and perform light trimming as needed to maintain its natural conical form. Avoid heavy pruning as this can damage the plant's structure.
CleaningAs needed
SoilLawson's Cypress 'Pelt's Blue' thrives best in moist, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH between 5.5 and 7.0. A mix of peat, sand, and loamy garden soil can provide the appropriate texture and nutrients for optimal growth.
RepottingLawson's Cypress 'Pelt's Blue' has a slow growth rate and does not require frequent repotting. It should be repotted every 3 to 5 years to refresh the soil and accommodate root growth.
Humidity & MistingLawson's Cypress 'Pelt's Blue' prefers moderate to high humidity levels but is adaptable to a range of humidity conditions typical of many outdoor environments.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Provide bright light, cool temperatures, and humid air.
Outdoor
Plant in full sun to partial shade, shelter from strong winds.
Hardiness zone
5-8 USDA
Life cycleChamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Pelt's Blue', commonly known as Lawson's Cypress or Port Orford cedar, begins its life as a seed, which requires stratification to break dormancy. Once germinated, the seedling grows slowly, developing a sturdy root system and a straight stem. As a young plant, it focuses on vegetative growth, increasing in height and girth and developing its characteristic blue-green foliage. The Lawson's Cypress reaches maturity in several years and can reproduce sexually when it is mature enough to produce cones - the male cones release pollen while the female cones develop into seed-bearing structures after pollination. The mature tree may live for several hundred years, continuing to grow in height and width, with older trees becoming more resistant to environmental stressors. Upon dying, the tree decomposes, returning nutrients to the soil and often providing habitat for wildlife before closing its life cycle.
PropogationPropogation time
Early spring
The most popular method of propagation for Lawson's Cypress 'Pelt's Blue' is through semi-hardwood cuttings. This is typically done in late summer to early fall when the current year's growth has begun to mature but is not yet fully hardened. The process involves selecting healthy, disease-free shoots and cutting a 4 to 6-inch (10 to 15 cm) length, making sure each cutting has several leaf nodes. The bottom end of the cutting is then dipped in rooting hormone to encourage root development and placed in a well-draining potting mix. The cuttings should be kept under high humidity conditions, either by using a misting system or a plastic cover, and at a consistent temperature of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) until they have rooted, which usually takes several weeks to a few months. Once rooted, the new plants can be gradually acclimatized to less humid conditions and eventually transplanted to their permanent locations.
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