Dwarf Gold Hinoki Cypress

Botanical Name: Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana Lutea’

Common Name: Dwarf Golden Hinoki Cypress

Mature Height and Width:
3–5' tall × 3–5' wide (slow growing; compact form)

Growth Habit: Dense, irregularly pyramidal to broadly mounded evergreen with layered, shell-like branching. Slow growth rate. Naturally compact with sculptural pad development, not tightly sheared.

Foliage Description: Bright golden-yellow to chartreuse new growth aging to deeper yellow-green interior foliage. Scale-like sprays arranged in cupped, fan-shaped layers creating visible tiered structure and interior depth. Color most intense in full sun.

Flower Description: Inconspicuous; not ornamental.

Bloom Time: Spring (non-ornamental cones).

Fall Color: Evergreen; golden tones persist year-round, slightly deeper in winter.

Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade; best color and density in full sun with adequate moisture.

Hardiness Zone: USDA Zones 5–8 (reliable in Northeast Zones 5–7 with good drainage).

Notable Landscape Uses: Rock garden specimen; foundation accent; mixed conifer garden; small courtyard focal point; low architectural evergreen in formal beds.

Deer Resistance: High
Consistently strong resistance in Northeast Zones 5–7 field conditions.