Of course Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Wissel’s Saguaro' is not a Cactus, but a Dwarf Conifer. Collectors are intrigued by the angled branches on this narrowly upright False Cypress that grow out, then up. The twisted, blue-green foliage, soft to the touch, is another appealing feature. Grows slowly, about 4in/year.

Chamaecyparis is a small genus native to North America, Taiwan, and Japan that includes important timber trees as well as some particularly valuable garden subjects. All are evergreen, but their leaves are minute scales pressed closely on tiny branches that remind one of fans. Provide moist, well-drained soil.

Dwarf is a relative term applied to plants, and it does not always mean miniature. Some of the Dwarf Needle Evergreens grow fairly large over the years, but compared to the species with which each variety is associated, those we offer are indeed dwarf, for most remain under 30 feet under cultivation. Some of their parents reach 120 feet or more. All of the dwarf forms can be contained by judicious pruning, or by planting them in restricted soil areas – a crevice of a rock garden, for example, to hold them to size by constricting their root systems.

One great value in placing Dwarf Evergreens in a border is that they do not defoliate in winter. A further feature is the wealth of different-colored foliage. They range from sea-greens to very dark greens, from shades of yellow to golden to beige, and are tantalizing as they change with the season. Dwarf Evergreens also make fine specimens for the terrace or patio when grown in containers. They also make unusual foundation plants.