Evening star., 1952-02-17
Evergreens for the Grounds
Folse-Cypress Badly Used as Foundation
Planting, but Has More Desirable Utility
By w. H. Younomon

sS tt NAA|iS 0uHty
Youngmon
for such q use, but that's where
most OF them are planted.
These two varieties are to. be
seen in the Washington area, but
there are score or more which
should be more useful. The Dwarf
Hinoh cypress &C. obtusa nana)
lis the lowest growing variety,
averaging about 8 feet Ia height.
The foliage is dark green and
Icrinkled. resembling small rosettes.
This is one Of the better varities.
Somewhat larger is the Football
Cypress (compact) &C. obtusa
compacta) with about the same
general appearance and growing
to 5 feet.
The dwarf Moss cypress &c.
Ipisifera squarrosa nana) Is another
3-footer but less useful because
Iof It's color. except where an accent
tone is needed. There are several
with yellow-tinted foliage such as
the sulphur plume &C. pisifera
iplumosa sulphurea-2 TO 3 feet) ,
Cripps Golden cypress &C. obtusa
Icrippsi. l0-15 feet) and yellow
Thread Retinospora &C. filifera
aurea--l0-12 feet).
In addition TO use as q founda-
ton planting or as q specimen, It
should be noted that the False
cypress is an excellent hedge plant.
The Thread Retinospora &C. fili-
|fera) makes an unusually attractive
hedge because Of the unusual ar
|rangement Of the foliage.
Any one interested In this group
will find that there are at least
20 varieties Of the Hinoki False
cypress &C. obtusa) and Is or so
Of the Sawara False-cypress &C.
piSifera) recognized. In addition
other locally known varieties will
be found in the catalogues Of the
nurserymen.
The confusion that exists in the
nomenclature Of this evergreen Is
explainable in part because Of the
two distinct types Of foliage car
ried during plants lifetime. The
attractive foliage Of the baby is
known as juvenile foliage. After
. time this Is dropped and o
mature form appears which is
quite different. But. because a
propagator may take cuttings Of
the juvenile foliage and it is re-
tanned during the life Of the plant
the appearance leads one to be-
lieve it is a different" plant.
Thus for q considerable time
botanistS considered them two
families. the Retinospora and the
Chamaecyparis. Now that they
have been combined by the schol-
ars, the confusion is not ended
because many books, catalogues
and nurserymen still refer to the
Retinospora. Besides it is an
easier name to pronounce than
Chamaecyparis.
Has Few Enemies.
The False-cypress is relatively
free from insects and diseases,
even the pestiferous bagworm does
not rate them very highly on his
preferred diet. This is an impor-
tant point for the home gardener,
seeking plants that do not require
too much attention.
The False-cypress is not q difi-
cult evergreen to transplant. How
ever. they should always be moved
with ball Of earth protecting the
roots. Late summers and early
spring are the preferred times for
transplanting. AS mentioned, they
are not fussy as TO soil, but will
respond to good soil preparation.
No fertilizer should be mixed into
the planting hole. but liberal guam
titles Of compost OF. peatmoss are
beneficial. A thick mulch the first
lfew years viii retain moisture and
protect the roots.
A regular pruning schedule viii
do much to keep the trees COM
pact and vigorous in appearance.
Clipping the False-cypress is not
complicated or difficult, since they
send out new twigs below the
pruning cut and soon I'LL In the
void. In less favorable situations,
q thin open type OF growth may
result In spite Of q regular prun-
ing, but that is probably because
of lack Of food, moisture or too
much shade. The False-cypress is
not adapted to a hot. dry situa-
ton.
! These are minor limitations and
we should look upon the False
cypress as one Of the better ever
greens for the home grounds. one
that may be expected to give de-
Isirable effects throughout the year.
/ FINISH DRAB WINTER INDOORS
1 WITH GORGEOUS BLooM
/ DUTCH HYBRID
AAAARYLLIS BULBS
| Ludwig Strain :.
4 IGRACILIS, miniatures, mixed coIors, "A
each. AMERICAN EXPRESS, rich medium
red, $3.50 each; FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT.
I deep dark red, 81 each. American Express
rated AA In YALLEEVuE tests past two
Il seasons. 24/26 en- size bulbs postpaid.
/ Immediate 6hipment, remit with order.