What soil does Columnar Lawson cypress grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, acidic.

Is Columnar Lawson cypress hardy?

Hardy down to -23 °C (USDA zone 6, RHS H7). It gets through winter everywhere at lower altitudes, but may not survive unprotected in a mountain garden.

How far from the house should Columnar Lawson cypress be planted?

Plant it at least 1 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

How far apart should Columnar Lawson cypress be planted?

Planted on its own, it needs 1.5 m between plants. For a hedge, allow 1.5 plants per metre.

How much water does Columnar Lawson cypress need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: low.

Columnar Lawson cypress

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Columnaris'

Columnar Lawson cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Columnaris') is a shrub. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -23 °C. Drought tolerance: low. Sold in local shops from about €15.

Illustration of Columnar Lawson cypress — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A false cypress that forms a slim, dense column branched to the ground, with steely blue-green scale-like foliage and stiffly upright branches. In ten years it is roughly 3 to 3.5 metres tall but only about 1 metre wide, and with age it can reach 8 to 10 metres, so it works as a vertical accent or specimen where space is tight, or planted in a row as a narrow screen that only needs trimming at the top. Plant it in sun or part shade, sheltered from wind, in moist, well-drained, rather acidic or neutral soil. It does not reshoot from old bare wood.

Watch out for

Its most serious problem is Phytophthora root and collar rot, to which Lawson cypress is especially susceptible: the foliage slowly fades and then browns, and the plant usually dies. There is no cure, so avoid heavy, waterlogged soil and do not replant where one has already died this way. On limy soil the foliage turns yellow. In the hot, dry summers of Central Europe it suffers from heat and dry air unless watered and goes bare inside, and in cold winters the sunny, windward side can scorch. Wet snow can splay the column apart, so tie it loosely together for winter where snow is heavy.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 3.5 m × 1 m
Hardiness: down to -23 °C
Foliage: Evergreen

Group	Shrub
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	3.5 m × 1 m
Ultimate size	5–10 m × 1–4 m
Hardiness	down to -23 °C (USDA 6, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Acidic
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	no data
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Low
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 1 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	150 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	Toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	from about €15

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €15

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 12, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Shrubs for part shade Hedge plants Evergreen hedge plants Plants for screening Evergreen plants Low-maintenance shrubs Plants for a Mediterranean garden

Guide on the topic

Fast-growing hedges: how much each grows in a year The fastest hedge plant is the Leyland cypress, growing about 90 cm a year, followed by cherry laurel 'Novita', firethorn and western red cedar at about 50 cm a year, then privet at 40 cm. How long a 180 cm hedge takes to screen depends more on the size of plant you buy: several years from small plants, one or two summers from large ones, but at many times the price per metre. The tables use the current shop prices in your country.

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