Atlantic white cypress

Atlantic white cypress (Chamaecyparis thyoides), is an evergreen coniferous tree in the Genus Chamaecyparis, Family Cupressaceae. It is also known as "Atlantic white cedar" (confusing because it is a cypress, not a cedar). It is native to the Atlantic coast of North America from Maine south to Georgia, with a subspecies, Gulf white cypress (Chamaecyparis thyoides subsp. henryae), native to the Mexican Gulf coast from Florida to Mississippi.

It is a small tree, reaching 15-25 m tall, with feathery foliage in moderately flattened sprays, usually somewhat glaucous blue-green in colour. The leaves are scale-like, 2-4mm long, and produced on somewhat flattened shoots. The cones are globose, 4-8mm diameter, with 6-10 scales.

It is of some importance in horticulture, with several named cultivars of varying crown shape, growth rates and foliage colour having been selected for garden planting.

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