Virginia Tech Dendrology

Hinoki falsecypress Cupressaceae Chamaecyparis obtusa (Siebold & Zucc.) Siebold & Zucc. ex Endl. symbol: CHOB8
Leaf: Evergreen, fine scale-like foliage, dark shiny green above, glaucous margins between scales form a distinct "x" shape pattern beneath.
Flower: Species is monoecious; not showy, males small (1/8 inch) reddish brown terminal cones; females sightly larger, round, yellow-green.
Fruit: Small, round cones (1/3 inch across), borne singly, orange-brown, numerous wrinkled scales, ripen in the late summer in one year.
Twig: Flattened foliar sprays, pendulous at ends, eventually turning brown as foliage dies.
Bark: Gray topped scaly, long ridges with reddish brown furrows and inner bark, peels in long, narrow strips.
Form: Large, straight tree in its native habitat of Japan where it reaches over 120 feet tall and has a narrow pyramidal crown. Many cultuvars (e.g. 'Nana') grow very slowly, reaching only 6' tall by 3-4' wide.
Looks like: Sawara-cedar - Atlantic white-cedar - Leyland cypress - northern white-cedar

Additional Range Information: Chamaecyparis obtusa is planted in the USDA hardiness zones shown above and is not known to widely escape cultivaton. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database - Horticulture Information
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information