Winter Siberian Carpet Cypress

A handsome cold hardy evergreen with attractive blue green summer foliage that develops a maroon coloring in the winter.

Winter siberian carpet cypress.

Siberian or russian cypress microbiota decussata is a relatively new introduction to our garden landscapes but may well become the groundcover of choice for northern gardeners. Siberian cypress is a low spreading soft textured evergreen shrub or ground cover. Can be used as a single specimen planted in mass or to help stabilize a slope. It is native to only this small remote region.

A feathery carpet for the winter garden february 10 2012 jana milbocker. Well suited for use in rock gardens as a specimen plant or massed as an easy care. Before we get into the specific attributes of the plant a little botany and history on this plant might be appreciated. Siberian carpet cypress microbiota decussata.

Microbiota or siberian cypress has graceful lacy shaped leaves that turn copper in winter and reverts to green again in spring. Drew s blue siberian carpet cypress. The plant tags say russian cypress also sometimes called russian arborvitae or siberian carpet are fine in full sun to part shade. Top reasons to grow celtic pride siberian cypress.

A vigorous evergreen shrub with bright green scale like foliage that becomes coppery brown in winter. For evergreen ground cover in cooler climates try one of the siberian carpet cypress varieties. I think full sun might be too much even in central pennsylvania. The fan like feathery branchlets appear on drooping branches.

Groundcover shrub transforms areas into a lush evergreen carpet. Drew s blue siberian carpet cypress is a multi stemmed evergreen shrub with a mounded form. These short and colorful shrubs turn a coppery purple in winter greening up again when warmer. In late fall the medium green leaves turn a burgundy to bronze color adding interest to the winter landscape.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. A single plant will gradually grow to form a colorful evergreen carpet 18 tall and up to 7 wide after 5 7 years. An adaptable conifer that provides excellent textural contrast to broad leaved shrubs or perennials. Its mounded dense habit is well suited for use in rock gardens as a specimen plant or massed as an easy care ground cover.

It was first discovered in 1921 high above the treeline in the mountain ranges of eastern siberia. Celtic pride microbiota was selected for its uniform growth and resistance to the tip dieback that often plagues conventional varieties. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.