Lawson Cypress ‘Snow White’ (P9)

The Lawson Cypress ‘Snow White’ Chamaecyparis lawsoniana is a beautiful evergreen conifer that creates a magical frosted effect in gardens throughout the year. This particular variety is well-known for its distinctive white-tipped foliage, making it perfect for gardeners who want to add lasting colour and form to their outdoor areas.

This cultivar has a slow to moderate growth habit, usually putting on around 15-20cm each year. It will eventually reach 3-4 metres tall, developing a neat conical shape that provides excellent vertical appeal. Its compact nature works well in smaller to medium gardens, and it also makes a superb container specimen.

What makes this tree special is its remarkable foliage. The small scale-like leaves are bright green, but each tip is adorned with creamy white markings that give the entire plant a snow-dusted look. This attractive colour combination lasts all year, ensuring your garden always has something interesting to look at. The soft, delicate texture of the branches adds extra decorative appeal.

Despite its delicate appearance, ‘Snow White’ is quite tough. It suits our climate perfectly and grows happily in both sunny spots and areas with some shade. While it likes moist, free-draining soil, it can cope with different soil conditions. It also handles city conditions reasonably well, so it works in urban gardens too.

This tree is popular with gardeners because of its unusual colouring and neat habit. It makes a brilliant standalone feature where its pale-tipped foliage really stands out. You could also plant several together for an attractive screen or informal hedge. It suits both contemporary and classic garden styles, bringing year-round sophistication to any setting.

Bird lovers will appreciate that Lawson Cypress provides excellent shelter, particularly during winter months. The thick foliage gives birds somewhere safe to roost and protection from bad weather.

If you’re looking for an easy-care, distinctive evergreen that offers constant colour, Lawson Cypress ‘Snow White’ fits the bill perfectly. Its gorgeous white-touched foliage and graceful shape bring charm to any garden, creating an attractive feature that looks good in every season.

Lawson Cypress ‘Snow White’ is relatively easy to care for, which is good news for UK gardeners. It prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil, but it’s adaptable to various soil types. When you first plant it, water regularly for the first growing season to help it establish. After that, it appreciates consistent moisture but can tolerate short periods of drought. Feed it with a slow-release, balanced fertiliser in spring. Pruning isn’t usually necessary unless you want to maintain a specific shape or size. If you need to prune, do it in late winter or early spring before new growth begins.

Ultimate height
0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height
20–50 years

Ultimate spread
0.5–1 metres

🇬🇧 UK Grown in Lancashire. Approx 20-30cm in a 9cm pot.