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Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Gracilis'
Dwarf Hinoki Cypress
Species from mountain forests of Japan and Taiwan; 'Nana Gracilis' is a widely cultivated garden cultivar
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Overview
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Gracilis' is an upright coniferous evergreen shrub growing 6-10 feet (1.8-3 m) tall and 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 m) wide at maturity over 30-40 years. Deep glossy green scale-like foliage is arranged in tightly congested prominently cupped shell-like sprays in overlapping whorls — the cupping of the sprays is more pronounced than in the species and than in the related cultivar 'Gracilis'. White X- and Y-shaped stomatal markings appear on the undersides. Reddish-brown bark exfoliates in strips. Crushed foliage releases a sweet resinous fragrance. The cultivar name translates as Nana = dwarf, Gracilis = graceful. Growth rate is 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) per year, among the slowest of cultivated dwarf conifers. Widely cultivated as a landscape and container plant. Not to be confused with 'Gracilis', which reaches 20-30 feet (6-9 m). Not drought-tolerant — requires consistent moisture. Non-toxic. Deer-resistant.
Native Range
Species native to mountain forests of Japan and Taiwan. 'Nana Gracilis' is a widely cultivated garden cultivar.Suggested Uses
Grown in rock gardens, dwarf conifer collections, Japanese-style gardens, and containers of at least 10 gallons (38 L), spaced 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 m) apart. The slow growth rate and cupped shell-like sprays suit small-scale mixed plantings. Non-toxic. Hardy in zones 4-8.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6' - 10'
Width/Spread4' - 6'
Reaches mature size in approximately 40 years
Bloom Information
Cone production is rare in the dwarf form. The species is wind-pollinated with small globose cones 0.3-0.5 inch (8-13 mm). The dense cupped-spray foliage is the year-round structural feature.Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
deep glossy green, scale-like, in tightly congested prominently cupped shell-like foliage sprays arranged in overlapping whorls; white X/Y stomatal markings on undersides; reddish-brown exfoliating bark; sweet resinous fragrance; evergreen year-roundGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 3-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Site in part sun to full sun (3-10 hours direct sun) in well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5-7.0. Not drought-tolerant — requires consistent moisture. Extremely slow-growing at 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) per year. No routine pruning is needed. Suitable for containers of at least 10 gallons (38 L) with consistent watering. Non-toxic. Deer-resistant. Hardy in zones 4-8.Pruning
No routine pruning is needed — the congested cupped-spray form is self-maintaining. Remove any dead or damaged branches. Hand-prune only if shaping is desired; shearing damages the spray structure and leaves browned cut scale-leaves.Maintenance Level
very lowContainer Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 10 gallons