Russian Arborvitae, Siberian Cypress                mi-kro-bi-O-ta day-ku-SA-ta

• Conifer, evergreen ground cover, low and wide spreading, 1 ft high (30 cm) but 9-12 ft (ca. 3-4 m) wide, somewhat reminiscent of Juniperus horizontalis, however its branch tips nod downward which makes it easy to differentiate it from spreading jumpers, whose branch tips tend to point upward.  Scale-like or awl-shaped leaves in opposite pairs, each leaflet small and pointed, dull green in summer, bronzy-reddish in winter.
• Full sun to light shade.  Grows in a wide range of soils.
• Hardy to USDA Zone 2      Discovered near Vladivostok, Russia in 1921.
• Microbiota: micro, small, biota, Greek name of genus Thuja;   decussata: leaves in pairs, each pair at right angle to the pair above or below.
• Oregon State Univ. campus: northwest corner Hort Garden (west of Cordley Hall).