Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Aurea' at Roath Park Botanic Garden

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Aurea' 0

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Aurea'
February 2016

Grid reference ST 18589 78935
Common name Golden hinoki cypress
Origin Japan
Deciduous No
Status Glamorgan Champion 2016
Marked on 1947 chart of Pinetum
Height 13M February 2016
Girth 127cm February 2016
Reference 412

This tree is on the east side of the Nant Fawr immediately south of the bridge by the conservatory and close to the stream.

This tree was originally shown on a 1947 chart of the Pinetum as Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Aurea'. However its foliage and general shape indicate that it is Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Aurea'.

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Aurea' bark

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Aurea' bark
February 2016

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Aurea' foliage

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Aurea' foliage
February 2016

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Aurea' foliage2

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Aurea' new outer foliage
early October 2017

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Aurea' cone2

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Aurea' maturing cones
early October 2017

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Aurea' foliage3

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Aurea' foliage
late March 2018

General tree description

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Aurea' is a cultivar of the Hinoki cypress, Chamaecyparis obtusa. It has a broad, conical shape and grows to medium height - up to about 15 metres. Its bark is dark reddish, soft and sometimes stringy. The new and outer foliage is golden (though duller than some other yellow cypresses) and the inner is green. The leaf ends are blunt. Male flowers are very small (about 3mm long) reddish brown cones, while the female flowers are slightly larger, round and yellow-green. The fruits are small, round, orange-brown cones, around 8mm across.