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Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Aurea'
Golden Thread Cypress
Species from mountain forests of Japan; 'Filifera Aurea' is a garden cultivar
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Overview
Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Aurea' is a broadly mounding to conical conifer growing 15-25 feet (4.5-7.5 m) tall and 12-15 feet (3.7-4.6 m) wide over 15-20 years. Golden-yellow to yellow-green scale-like foliage is borne on long thread-like pendant branchlets that cascade downward in curtain-like layers. The cultivar name translates as Filifera = thread-bearing, Aurea = golden — the golden form of 'Filifera'. Foliage color is most golden with 6+ hours direct sun and shifts toward yellow-green under lower light. Slightly smaller at maturity than the green 'Filifera'. Foliage may take on a bronze cast in cold winters (below about 10°F / -12°C) and returns to gold in spring. Tiny pea-sized globose cones, approximately 0.25 inch (6 mm), are borne on older wood but are sparse on young plants. The wide 12-15 foot (3.7-4.6 m) spread and 15-25 foot (4.5-7.5 m) height require a large site; for smaller gardens, the dwarf cultivar 'Filifera Aurea Nana' reaches only 3-6 feet (90-180 cm). Not drought-tolerant — requires consistent moisture. Non-toxic. Deer-resistant.
Native Range
Species native to mountain forests of Japan. 'Filifera Aurea' is a garden cultivar.Suggested Uses
Grown as a golden specimen conifer on large sites, spaced 12-15 feet (3.7-4.6 m) apart. The thread-like golden foliage cascading in curtain-like layers suits sites where the form can be viewed as a freestanding specimen. For small gardens, the dwarf cultivar 'Filifera Aurea Nana' reaches only 3-6 feet (90-180 cm). Non-toxic. Hardy in zones 5-8.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height15' - 25'
Width/Spread12' - 15'
Reaches mature size in approximately 20 years
Bloom Information
Not applicable — conifer. Wind-pollinated. Reddish-brown pollen cones shed pollen in March-April. Tiny pea-sized globose cones, approximately 0.25 inch (6 mm), are sparse on young plants.Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
golden-yellow to yellow-green, scale-like on long thread-like pendant branchlets cascading downward; most golden in full sun (6+ hours) and greener in shade; may bronze slightly in cold winters; evergreen year-roundGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 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 full sun to part sun (6-10 hours direct sun) in well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5-7.5. Foliage color is most golden with full sun exposure; shaded plants shift toward yellow-green. Not drought-tolerant — requires consistent moisture. Large mature size of 15-25 feet (4.5-7.5 m) tall and 12-15 feet (3.7-4.6 m) wide requires a large site. Slight bronzing may occur in cold winters and reverses in spring. Non-toxic. Deer-resistant. Hardy in zones 5-8.Pruning
Prune in late spring (May) only if shaping is needed. The natural broadly mounding to conical form with pendant thread-like branchlets is self-maintaining. Hand-prune rather than shearing; shearing damages the thread-like branchlet structure and leaves cut stubs that brown.Pruning Schedule
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late spring