December Tree of the Month-Alaskan Cedar

What would a long St. Louis winter be without evergreens? When the rest of the garden disappears into dormancy, the evergreens come into play, carrying us through until spring.

Evergreens set the bar when it comes to ‘winter interest,’ and one of my favorites is the Alaskan cedar, sometimes called the Nootka falsecypress. The current accepted botanical name of the most commonly found cultivar is Xanthocyparis nootkatensis’ Pendula’. *

Don’t let the name “Alaskan” fool you; this evergreen is hardy here in the Lou, tolerating our heat and humidity along with the cold. Unlike the familiar arborvitaes used so often for screening out your neighbor’s trash cans and party deck, the Alaskan cedar will hold up to wet snows without splitting. Height can be up to 30′ but is usually smaller here. With a width of only 12′, this upright evergreen won’t grow so broad as to be mistaken for a giant that eats away at your precious garden and walk-way space as arborvitaes do. Another plus, no shearing or pruning is required.

Alaskan cedars will take full sun or part-shade but do need well-drained soil.

‘Green Arrow’ is a fun cultivar with a super-narrow growth habit of 2′ wide, even when the height reaches above 20′.

*This poor plant has a serious identity problem. Cupressus, Chamaecyparis, Xanthocyparis …The botanical name has changed numerous times the past few years, but a tree by any other name would still be just as outstanding.

What I love about this plant-It’s evergreen. It’s NOT an overused arborvitae. It’s narrow growth and beautiful dramatic drippy-oozy, elegant foliage.

What’s not so great-Not for the OCD plant geek that has to have a perfect, uniform shape. This tree has what is called ‘character’ and, like people with character, should be given room to ‘be themselves’ without pruning or shearing.

Words and photos by Jo Batzer

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