Belfast Botanic Gardens Tree Archive

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This is one of a series of short articles about trees in the Belfast Botanic Gardens compiled by the Friends group. The tree tag number relates to the small aluminium discs, usually fixed on the tree trunk, 2 to 3m above ground level.
Family: Cupressaceae
Chamaecyparis pisifera (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. 'Squarrosa'
Sawara cypress and its cultivars

Tag 71
54o 34.853N
5o 55.944W
The Sawara cypress was introduced from Japan in 1843. The cultivar C. pisifera 'Squarrosa' illustrated here is in the main pinetum area of the Botanic Gardens. The type species has adpressed leaves. The more widely grown cultivars (including 'Squarrosa', 'Plumosa' and 'Plumosa Aurea') retain the tree's juvenile foliage which is more lax with longer leaves, giving the branches a more attractive feathery look than the type. Individual leaves have a grey powdery coating on the backs which contributes to the overall bluish effect of the tree.
Chamaecyparis pisifera in Belfast Botanic Gardens

Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Squarrosa'
Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Squarrosa' in Belfast Botanic Gardens Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Squarrosa'

Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Squarrosa' foliage

Chamaecyparis pisifera bark
Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Squarrosa' foliage Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Squarrosa' bark
Chamaecyparis pisifera leaf detail Chamaecyparis pisifera abaxial
Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Squarrosa' foliage detail Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Squarrosa' abaxial leaf surface

Photos taken in Belfast Botanic Gardens in 2016. Copyright: Friends of Belfast Botanic Gardens.

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