Chamaecyparis Lawsoniana 'Ivonne'

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Yvonne'

This plant is recognized immediately by its yellow hued leaves. From spring to summer it has flat, soft needles characterized by a yellow-green color that changes to almost golden color in winter months. The leaves become pressed together closely as the foliage matures.

Growing Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Yvonne'

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Yvonne' is widely grown in the United Kingdom as an ornamental tree. It adds a neat burst of golden-yellow to a garden.

The tree produces tiny male and female flowers in spring or summer. The female flower develops into tiny, brown cones. The dense evergreen foliage provides a nesting site for birds in late winter or early spring. Because of its tolerance to pruning and dense growth habit, the tree can be used for topiary.

Why you should grow a Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Yvonne' hedge

This tree has many fantastic features that you would want to see in your garden. Here are a few reasons as to why you should consider growing this variety as a hedge in your garden:

• It is a hardy evergreen confer with a beautiful conical shape
• Has signature golden foliage, mostly in winter
• It is a disease resistant cultivar
• Its foliage has a sweet fragrant
• It becomes a bit wider at the base at it ages
• If you will be growing it as a tree, you don’t need to trim it because it has a natural conical shape
• It is widely used in the United Kingdom as an ornamental tree
• It provides a nesting site for birds in late winter or early spring
• It can be used for topiary, thanks to it for being tolerant to pruning as well as its dense growth habit
• It grows in many types of soils except waterlogged soils

Where to grow

Although Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Yvonne' prefers full sun, it will also grow happily in partial shade. It grows in well-drained soil but appreciates lightly acidic soil. And although it is hardy, it is not recommended to plant it in locations that are very exposed as its foliage won’t look at its best. It also dislikes waterlogged soils.

How to plant

It is important that you plant Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Yvonne' for it to grow into a healthy, compact hedge. Follow these simple steps:

1. Thoroughly water the plant in its clod before planting
2. Find a suitable planting location and get rid of grass and other weeds to eliminate competition for water and nutrients in the soil
3. Dig a trench twice as wide and same height as the clod and ensure that the walls are straight
4. Loosen the soil at the bottom of the trench and amend some soil from the trench with manure
5. Place the clod in the trench and ensure that the top of the clod does not protrude above the surface of the ground
6. Fill back the mixture of garden soil and manure followed by the remaining soil as you firm down with your feet or hands
7. Water thoroughly

Tips

Don’t overwater the young Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Yvonne'

Don’t grow it in exposed places as its foliage won’t look at its best

Note that contact with foliage may cause skin irritation

Spacing

As you probably know, spacing is very important in hedging. You have to make sure that you get spacing distance right. Planting too close will lead to overcrowding while too far means it will take a longer time before a compact hedge is formed.

The recommended spacing distance for Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Yvonne' is two to three plants per meter.

Care & Advice

There are a few things that you need to do to help your Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Yvonne' plants grow into a healthy hedge. Here are a few care tips and advice you should keep in mind:

• Watering

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Yvonne' should be watered regularly especially during the first growing season. However, as mentioned above, the tree won’t do well on waterlogged soil; therefore, you will want to water it with moderation. The best way to know if the plant needs water is by checking to see if the first few centimeters of the top soil are dry

• Mulching

Apply a thin layer of mulch to prevent loss of moisture to the environment through evaporation and also to suppress weed. Make sure that the mulch is about 5cm away from the trunk of the tree to prevent rotting

• Pruning

You can prune Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Yvonne' if necessary. However, if you want to shape it, the best time for trimming is from February to March. You can also trim twice a year if a need to do so arises.

• Fertilizer

You also need to feed with an all-purpose fertilizer once a year. That should be enough to provide the required nutrients for growth

Also watch out for specific pests like aphids and juniper scale; and disease like honey fungus and phytophthora root diseases.

Advantages

• Bright foliage color throughout the year
• Low maintenance
• Tried and tested variety of hedge plant
• Excellent vertical accent
• Beautiful slender upright growth habit with a broader base at maturity
• Recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit
• Foliage produces a sweet fragrance

Should I buy Chamaecyparislawsoniana 'Yvonne' for my hedge?

Chamaecyparislawsoniana 'Yvonne' is a unique variety of coniferous trees that is widely grown in the UK because of its signature golden foliage. In addition, it has a striking conical shape and the fact that it is tough makes it the ideal hedge plant for any regions around the world.

In addition, this coniferous trees acquires even a better shape with age-it becomes a bit wider at the base and narrower at the top, giving it that outstanding look of a beautiful hedge. And if you love wildlife, this tree will serve as nesting sites to birds in late winter or early spring. You will definitely love having this tree in your hedge