What soil does Sawara cypress grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, acidic.

Is Sawara 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 Sawara cypress be planted?

Plant it at least 1.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

How much water does Sawara cypress need?

Water need: high. Drought tolerance: low.

How much does Sawara cypress cost?

It sells for roughly €16 to €34 in local shops, depending on size.

Sawara cypress

Chamaecyparis pisifera

Sawara cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera) is a shrub. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: low. Sold in local shops from about €16.

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

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

An evergreen from Japan that is a large tree in the wild, but gardens almost only grow its slow ornamental forms: the thread-leaf Filifera types with drooping, cord-like shoots (such as the golden Filifera Aurea and Sungold) and Boulevard with soft, silvery-blue, mossy foliage. These make broadly conical or mounded shrubs, roughly 1.5 to 2 metres tall after ten years, good as a specimen, in a rock garden, a Japanese-style garden or a container, although Filifera Aurea can reach several metres over the decades. Plant it in sun or part shade in humus-rich, acidic to neutral, well-drained but always moist soil, because the root ball must never dry out.

Watch out for

In dry air and when short of water the foliage browns and dies from the trunk outwards until only the branch tips stay green; this is most common on Boulevard and is made worse by drought, recent planting, root disturbance and hot wind. Strong direct sun, drought, winter frost and mites can cause scorch-like browning, so in the hot, dry summers of Central Europe it needs regular watering, and Boulevard belongs in a more humid, part-shaded, sheltered spot. Root rot (Phytophthora) can strike in waterlogged soil, and it grows poorly on limy, alkaline soil.

Key facts

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

Group	Shrub
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	1.5 m × 1.5 m
Ultimate size	1–6 m × 1–4 m
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Acidic
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	no data
Water need	High
Drought tolerance	Low
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 1.5 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	no data
Typical price	from about €16

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
20-25 cm	approx. €21
25-30 cm	approx. €16
30-40 cm	approx. €17
30-35 cm	approx. €34
size not stated	approx. €17 – €21

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Shrubs for part shade Evergreen plants Plants for containers

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