Hinoki cypress

It is a slow-growing tree which may reach 35 m (115 ft) tall with a trunk up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in diameter. The bark is dark red-brown. The leaves are scale-like, 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long, blunt tipped (obtuse), green above, and green below with a white stomatal band at the base of each scale-leaf. The cones are globose, 8–12 mm (0.31–0.47 in) in diameter, with 8–12 scales arranged in opposite pairs.

It is also a popular ornamental tree in parks and gardens, both in Japan and elsewhere in temperate climates, including western Europe and parts of North America. A large number of cultivars have been selected for garden planting, including dwarf forms, forms with yellow leaves, and forms with congested foliage. It is also often grown as bonsai.

Cultivars. Over 200 cultivars have been selected, varying in size from trees as large as the wild species, down to very slow-growing dwarf plants under 30 cm (12 in) high. A few of the best known are listed below. Those marked agm have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (confirmed 2017).

'Crippsii'agm makes a broad conic golden-green crown with a vigorous leading shoot, growing to 15–20 m (49–66 ft) or more tall 'Fernspray Gold'agm – 3.5 m (11 ft), arching sprays of green/yellow branches 'Kamarachiba'agm – spreading shrub, 45 cm (18 in) tall by 100 cm (39 in) wide, sprays of yellow-green 'Kosteri'agm – sprawling dwarf to 2 m (6.6 ft) tall by 3 m (9.8 ft) wide, with brilliant green foliage 'Lycopodioides' reaches up to 19 m (62 ft) tall, with somewhat fasciated foliage 'Minima' – under 10 cm (3.9 in) after 20 years with mid-green foliage 'Nana'agm – dark green, rounded dwarf shrub to 1 m (3.3 ft) 'Nana Aurea'agm – 2 m (6.6 ft), golden tips to the fans and a bronze tone in winter 'Nana Gracilis'agm – crowded …