Is Ellwood's Lawson cypress hardy?

Hardy down to -29 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Ellwood's Lawson cypress be planted?

Plant it at least 2.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

How much water does Ellwood's Lawson cypress need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: low.

Ellwood's Lawson cypress

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Ellwoodii'

Ellwood's Lawson cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Ellwoodii') is a shrub. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: low. Toxic to children.

Illustration of Ellwood's 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 dense, narrow cone or column of false cypress with soft, needle-like blue-green foliage that turns a steelier blue in winter. It grows slowly, reaching about 1.5 metres in ten years and 3 to 4 metres, sometimes more, in old age, which makes it a good vertical accent in a small garden, front garden, behind a rock garden or in a large pot, with no pruning needed. Plant it in moist, well-drained, acidic to neutral soil in a sheltered spot with some humidity; it copes badly with limy ground and drying out.

Watch out for

Lawson cypress is among the plants most susceptible to Phytophthora root and collar rot: 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 yellows and growth is poor. In the hot, dry summers of Central Europe it suffers from heat and dry air unless watered, goes bare inside and does not resprout from old, leafless wood; in cold winters the sunny, windward side can scorch. As a member of the cypress family it can be attacked by the juniper jewel beetle (Lamprodila festiva) and cypress bark beetles, mainly when weakened by drought: the jewel beetle's larvae tunnel under the bark and whole branches die suddenly. The multi-stemmed column tends to fall open with age and wet snow can splay it, so tie it loosely together for winter.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 1.5 m × 60 cm
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Evergreen

Group	Shrub
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	1.5 m × 60 cm
Ultimate size	3–8 m × 1–2.5 m
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Acidic, Clay, Sandy
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 2.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	80 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	Toxic
Typical price	no data

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

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 18, 2026 · How our data is made

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