What Is a Gold Threaded Cypress Plant & Does It Bloom?

Appearance

• Golden threadleaf falsecypress grows quite slowly, taking 20 years to grow to 6 or 7 feet tall. In ideal conditions, the shrub may grow up to 20 feet tall. It takes 20 to 50 years to reach its final height, according to the Royal Horticultural Society's website. The shrub has a dense, conical habit composed of thin, drooping foliage that retains its golden color year-round. Mature branches may have peeling, reddish bark.

Location

• The amount of sunlight necessary for golden threadleaf falsecypress can be difficult to determine. Too much shade results in a plant with foliage that is greenish or patchy rather than golden while too much sunlight may scorch the plant. Choose a location with morning sunlight and afternoon shade if possible. Golden threadleaf is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. The Missouri Botanical Garden's website recommends a location with shelter from wind.

Culture

• Adaptable and resilient, golden threadleaf falsecypress grows in heavy, clay soil and sandy soil, though it prefers fertile, well-draining soil that is regularly irrigated during the growing season. Do not plant it in wet, poorly draining soil, which invites root rot. Pruning is not necessary to maintain the shrub's health, though gardeners who desire a more formal appearance can clip the shrub in spring and fall to keep it looking tidy. The plant is prone to aphids, which may be washed away with a direct stream of water.

Considerations

• Golden threadleaf falsecypress is suitable as a rock garden specimen plant and may be used to cover an ugly foundation. Take care when handling the plant because its foliage may cause skin irritation.

  The cultivar "Sungold" (Chamaecyparis Pisifera "Sungold"), also called Japanese Falsecypress, offers bright, lime-green and golden foliage and is more tolerant of full sunlight than Golden Threadleaf Falsecypress. "Sungold" is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 7.