General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 5a -28.9 °C (-20 °F) to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 7b
Plant Height: 4-6 feet
Plant Spread: 6-8 feet
Leaves: Good fall color
Evergreen
Needled
Other: Stringy, thread-like golden-yellow, retains good yellow color throughout the year.
Fruit: Other: 1/4 inch green cones, maturing to blackish-brown.
Underground structures: Taproot
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Uses: Provides winter interest
Resistances: Drought tolerant
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous: Tolerates poor soil
Child plants: one child plant

Image
Common names
  • Sawara Cypress
  • Japanese False Cypress
  • Threadbranch Cypress
  • Sawara False Cypress
  • Sawara
Also sold as:
  • 'Filifera Golden Mop'
  • 'Mops'

Photo Gallery
Location: Wagner Park, New York City
Date: 07/01/2016
photo by K M via Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/131880272@
Location: z5 MA, my garden
Date: 2011-10-13
9 to 10' across
Location: Michigan State University Hidden Lake Garden, Tipton, MI
Date: 2011-05-25
Location: My garden in Southeast Virginia
Date: 2014-04-13
Location: Kalama, Wa.
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: My garden, Pequea, Pennsylvania USA
Date: 2018-01-27
Location: Indiana zone 5
Date: 2015-06-15
Location: z5 MA
Date: 2011-10-13
Location: Fairfax, VA | April, 2023 
Date: 2023-04-01

Date: 2012-01-23
Uploaded by Mefforde

Photo courtesy of Singing Tree Gardens Nursery
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: My garden, Pequea, Pennsylvania USA
Date: 2018-01-27

Date: 2011-04-15

Photo courtesy of Singing Tree Gardens Nursery
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: My garden, Pequea, PA 17565
Date: 2015-12-06
About 2 1/2' in diameter after one year in my garden
Location: Clinton, Michigan 49236
Date: 2017-11-02
Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Golden Mop', 2017, [Sawara False Cypress]
Location: West Jordan, Utah, United States
Date: 2021-09-14

Photo courtesy of Singing Tree Gardens
Location: Bordines Nursery, Rochester Hills, MI
Date: 2017-07-14
Location: Jersey City NJ
Date: 2023-07-23
Getting too big :)
Location: My garden, Pequea, Pennsylvania USA
Date: 2018-01-27
Location: My garden, Pequea, Pennsylvania USA
Date: 2018-01-27
Location: Clinton, Michigan 49236
Date: 2017-11-02
Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Golden Mop', 2017, [Sawara False Cypress]
Location: Front border
Date: August
Uploaded by virginiarose
Location: my garden zone 7A Cape Cod, MA
Date: 2017-05-25
Location: Bordines Nursery, Rochester Hills, MI
Date: 2017-07-14
Location: Bordines Nursery, Rochester Hills, MI
Date: 2017-07-14
Location: Bordines Nursery, Rochester Hills, MI
Date: 2017-07-14
Location: Bordines Nursery, Rochester Hills, MI
Date: 2017-07-14
Location: Bordines Nursery, Rochester Hills, MI
Date: 2017-07-14
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by eclayne (Pioneer Valley south, MA, USA - Zone 6a) on Dec 7, 2011 9:47 PM concerning plant:
    Most literature indicates this shrub reaches 4 to 8' in height in 10-15 years. Be forewarned, the one pictured is approximately 7'H x 10'W at ~25 years, only because of yearly pruning. Give it plenty of room to sprawl for a more natural look. Another in less than full sun has less yellow coloring.
  • Posted by virginiarose (Virginia - Zone 8a) on Dec 4, 2012 6:01 PM concerning plant:
    This shrub gets about 6 hours of morning sun and it's just enough to give it the golden color.
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