How big does Lawson cypress grow?

About 2.5 m × 1 m after ten years (height × width).

Is 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 Lawson cypress be planted?

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

How much water does Lawson cypress need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: low.

How much does Lawson cypress cost?

It sells for roughly €9 to €59 in local shops, depending on size.

Lawson cypress

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana

Lawson cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) is a shrub that reaches 2.5 m × 1 m after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: low. Sold in local shops from about €9.

Illustration of 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 soft, scale-leaved evergreen that is grown in gardens almost only as cultivars: slim columns or cones in blue-green, green or yellow that stay far smaller than the wild tree, which tops 50 metres (about 1.5 to 3 metres after ten years, eventually 2 to 10 metres depending on the cultivar). Good as a specimen, for screening or in a large tub, and it hardly needs pruning. Give it moist but well-drained soil and a sheltered, more humid spot, because it copes badly with dry air and drought and not at all with waterlogging.

Watch out for

Its most serious problem is Phytophthora root and collar rot: Lawson cypress is among the most susceptible garden plants. The foliage slowly fades to dull grey-green and then brown and the plant usually dies; there is no cure, so avoid heavy, wet or waterlogged soil and do not replant where one has already died this way. Phytophthora lateralis, the specialist pathogen that devastates the species in North America, has also turned up in Western Europe in recent years. 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. Weakened plants may also be attacked by the juniper jewel beetle, whose larvae tunnel under the bark and make whole branches die suddenly.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 2.5 m × 1 m
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Evergreen

Group	Shrub
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	2.5 m × 1 m
Ultimate size	1.5–10 m × 0.5–4 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	Medium
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	no data
Typical price	from about €9

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
25-35 cm	approx. €11
30-40 cm	approx. €9
40-60 cm	approx. €14
70-110 cm	approx. €25
size not stated	approx. €59

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Shrubs for part shade Plants for screening Evergreen plants Plants for containers

Compare with similar plants

Lawson cypress vs Chinese juniper Lawson cypress vs Hinoki cypress Lawson cypress vs Sawara cypress