Hinoki Cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa
Cypress family (Cupressaceae)
One of the five holy trees
This slow growing conifer with its straight trunk and red-brown bark can reach 40 m in height and 3 m in girth. The scale-like leaves are dark green above and the underside has white, X-shaped markings. The durable wood is white and smells like lemon. Hinoki is Japanese for ‘fire tree’. In certain Shinto rituals pieces of dried Hinoki wood were rubbed together just until a flame was produced. Historically speaking Hinoki wood is one of the most important woods in Japanese architecture with Shinto temples being erected out of predominantly rough blank Hinoki wood. Only later were temples painted red in order to ward off all kinds of evil. This species also occurs in dwarf form propagated from witches broomsticks. They are also slow growing and are ideal patio plants (in a pot) and in rock gardens.
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This tree is valued for its very high quality timber in Japan where it is used for building palaces, temples, shrines, traditional 'noh' theatres, baths, table tennis tables. The wood is highly resistant to rot.
The wood is lemon-scented.
Details
Description: | Conifer, up to 40 m in height and 3 m in diameter. |
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Distributions: | Japan |
Habitat: | Mixed conifer-angiosperm forests. |
Year cycle: | Perennial (polycarpic evergreen) |
Hardiness: | -4 - 5 f (hardy - very cold winter) |
Flower color: | Red, brown, yellow, green |
Notes on flowers: | Small, reddish-brwon male cones and a slightly larger, rounded, yellow-green female inflorescence. |