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Common Name: Lawson Cypress

General Information

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 25.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials..

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Western N. America - Oregon to California. Locally naturalized in S. Europe[].

Habitat

Usually scattered in small groves on moist slopes and canyons, often on serpentine soils, below 1500 metres. Seldom more than 50 kilometres from the coast[, ].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in most soils and situations, but prefers a moist deep loamy soil and a sheltered position[, ]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Survives on dry alkaline soils[]. Growth of trees is hardly affected by a lack of phosphate in the soil. Plants are moderately shade tolerant, especially when young[, ]. Plants are tolerant of atmospheric pollution according to one report[], whilst another says that they do not do well in a polluted atmosphere[]. A fairly wind tolerant plant, but it does not like severe maritime exposure[]. Plants are susceptible to wind burn and recover variably[].
This species is hardy to about -25°c[].
A fairly long-lived tree in the wild with specimens 500 - 600 years old[]. It is a very valuable timber tree in N. America and it is sometimes cultivated as a forestry tree in Britain, where it occasionally self-sows[, ]. It establishes well and grows quickly. New shoots can make 1 metre in a year but trees rarely maintain that rate and 30cm is nearer the average[]. New growth starts very slowly in April, speeds up in June and ceases in September[].
A very uniform species in the wild[], in cultivation it is polymorphic and there are many named varieties[, , ].
The crushed foliage has a pungent smell[].
Favoured by many birds for roosting, providing high cover and especially for nesting, large specimens of this tree help to attract songbirds to the garden[].
Trees are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The resin is a powerful diuretic[, , ].

Other Uses

Plants can be grown as a tall hedge[, , ] They are very tolerant of clipping so long as this does not extend into the brown barked wood since trees cannot regenerate from this[]. Any trimming should be done in the summer[].
Certain dwarf forms can be used for ground cover, the cultivars 'Knowefieldensis', 'Nidiformis' and 'Tamariscifolia' have been recommended[].
The branches have been used to make brooms[].
Wood - very close-grained, hard, strong, durable, easily worked, light, abounding in fragrant resin, acid resistant. One of the world's finest timbers, it is widely used for flooring, fencing, making boats etc[, , , ]. It is now in short supply due to over-harvesting without replanting[].

Propagation

Seed - sow early to mid spring in a seedbed outdoors[]. The seed is best sown in pots in a frame[]. Seed can take 18 months to germinate. One month warm then one month cold stratification has produced good results[]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter, planting them out in late spring after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings in late summer or autumn in sandy soil in a cold frame[, , ]. Difficult, it may be best done in late winter to early spring[].