Chamaecyparis lawsoniana

Port Orford cedar

Männliche Blütenzapfen (CC BY-SA 3.0) Sten Porse

Short Description

The Port Orford cedar is an evergreen conifer that can grow up to 30 metres high.

The scale-like leaves lie flat against the shoot. They are dark green and dull.

The bark is reddish brown and peels off in strips. The trunk is upright and straight, only the top shoot always hangs over.

There are male and female flower cones. The male flower cones sit at the ends of the shoots and are crimson red. The female flower cones are blue and spherical.

The mature cones are reddish brown, pea-shaped and about one centimetre in diameter.

Features

Port Orford cedar

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana
  • pea-shaped cones

  • overhanging tree top

Weibliche Blütenzapfen (CC BY-SA 3.0) Sten Porse

In the city

The Port Orford cedar has low habitat requirements. In the city it is a very common ornamental tree in parks, gardens and cemeteries. It is also planted as a hedge.

Fun Facts

  • The flowering period is from March to April.

  • The Port Orford cedar is originally from North America. It was introduced to Europe in the 19th century as an ornamental plant and occasionally runs wild. It thus belongs to the non-native species (neophytes).

  • The shoots and leaves are poisonous and can cause skin irritation.

  • The wood is used for the construction of boats and furniture.

  • It can live up to 600 years.

  • Endangerment level Germany: not evaluated
Nadeln und Zapfen (CC BY-SA 3.0 ) H. Zell

Sources

Männliche Blütenzapfen, Sten Porse, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Chamaecyparis-lawsoniana-female.JPG

Weibliche Blütenzapfen, Sten Porse, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Chamaecyparis-lawsoniana-male.JPG

Nadeln und Zapfen, H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0 , https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chamaecyparis_lawsoniana_002.JPG

Bachofer, M. & Mayer, J. (2015) Der Kosmos Baumführer. 370 Bäume und Sträucher Mitteleuropas. Stuttgart: Franckh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH & Co. KG.

Page „Lawsons Scheinzypresse“. : Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Date of last revision: 11.07.2021, 19:23 UTC. URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lawsons_Scheinzypresse&oldid=213770413 (Accessed: 22.09.2021).