PlantFiles: Sawara False Cypress, Japanese False Cypress
Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Golden Mop'

Planted eight mops in fall 2007, full sun, zone 8, southwest of garden, they have florished with very little care, other then spring cleaning to prune and remove any brown die back. During spring and summer the color is golden, then as the cooler tempurtures arrive in late fall then winter approaches the color intensifies as these photos will reveal.

This is one of my favorite golden-colored evergreen. While most labels say 'Gold Mop' stays under 3', it will grow larger over time unless occasionally pruned (easy...just cut off any growth that rises above the height you want). Mine tend to broaden out as they age. Excellent winter color here in Central Indiana, very little browning, if any unless we have dry, windy winter conditions. Great combined with globe blue spruce and dwarf red barberries like 'Bagatelle'.

I have seen this planted at a bulding entrance on campus, it is nice to see the color in the winter. This being the second year after planting on the South side where it is dry all seems to be going strong.

smaller cultivar of Japanese Sawara Cypress that only grows to about 10' and has long, drooping golden branches, that I suppose could look like a wet mop. The regular form of this species grows up to 150' tall in Japan, so this is a very dwarfed form. Pretty slow growing, too.