Other Names:  C. glabra, C. arizonica var. glabra

Description:

A small, rounded accent shrub with foliage that is wonderfully fine and sea-green; very slow growing; use as an accent in the garden, or in containers

Ornamental Features

Compacta Dwarf Smooth Cypress is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the garden for its interestingly mounded form. It has attractive bluish-green evergreen foliage. The fragrant threadlike sprays of foliage are highly ornamental and remain bluish-green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Compacta Dwarf Smooth Cypress is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a mounded form. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Compacta Dwarf Smooth Cypress is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Compacta Dwarf Smooth Cypress will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. It has a low canopy. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 years or more.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. This plant should not require much in the way of fertilizing once established, although it may appreciate a shot of general-purpose fertilizer from time to time early in the growing season. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selection of a native North American species.

Compacta Dwarf Smooth Cypress makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. It can be used either as 'filler' or as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, depending on the height and form of the other plants used in the container planting. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.