Moss Falsecypress, Moss Sawara Falsecypress, Moss Sawara Cypress                 kam-e-SIP-a-ris pi-SIF-er -a

• Conifer, evergreen tree, 8(40) ft [2(12) m], open conical, densely twiggy, becomes irregularly fluffy.  Leaves are needle-like, opposite pairs, flat, 6 mm long, stand out 45-90° from the stem; foliage very feathery, soft to touch, silver-gray-green.  The dead brown twigs in the interior are unsightly.
• Hardy to USDA Zone 4      Introduced from Japan in 1843 by Von Siebold.
• There are several cultivars that are related or similar to ‘Squarrosa’, but there seems to be a good deal of confusion on the names.
  • ‘Squarrosa Aurea’  -  outer yellow leaves against greenish-blue inner leaves, dwarf, slow growing to a roundrd, slightly upright plant, to about 3 ft (0.9 m) in 10 years.
  • ‘Squarrosa Intermedia’  -  a bluish, semi-dwarf form, produces long shoots and needs trimming.
  • ‘Squarrosa Lutea’  -  sulfer-yellow foliage, grows slowly into an irregular globe, eventually 3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m).
  • ‘Squarrosa Minima’  -  miniature globe-shaped form, less than 1 ft (30 cm) in 10 years, olive-green foliage.
  • ‘Squarrosa Sulphurea’  -  sulphur-yellow foliage, especially in spring, globe shaped shrub, dense.
• squarrosa: from the Latin meaning rough, with reference to the scaly leaves which spread outward.
• Oregon State Univ. campus: northwest corner of Women's Building (two large trees).