Velvet rather than scales
Short, sickle-shaped juvenile leaves create a soft surface unlike the flat sprays of mature false-cypress foliage.
Chamaecyparis 'Blue Planet' 19cm
Normal price
€15,00
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Chamaecyparis ‘Blue Planet’
Round, compact, quietly impressive 🌿
- Silver-blue soft foliage
- Dense near-spherical crown
- Slow dwarf growth
- Sun to bright partial shade
Chamaecyparis ‘Blue Planet’ is the small silver-blue sphere that makes a planting scheme look considered at once. Very short, softly curved needles knit into a dense crown with a clean, full outline and a velvety surface. In a pot, rock garden or the front of a border it provides steady colour, calm geometry and fine texture through all twelve months, with the quiet polish of a living design object.
Its small, beautifully rounded presence brings instant balance to combinations of gravel, stone and broad-leaved plants, while the silver-blue colour lifts even the calmest green palette. It looks equally elegant on its own in a carefully chosen pot or repeated along an entrance, remaining a steady, well-shaped point of interest in every season.
What makes it special
This cultivar brings together a naturally compact scale, dense branching and blue foliage that remains decorative without relying on flowers.
A sphere made by branching
Dense, even side shoots build the rounded outline naturally instead of depending on shearing.
Silver-blue from every angle
White stomatal bands and the leaf arrangement keep the cool colour visible around the whole crown.
Why you will love it: it gives year-round blue structure in a genuinely small, slow form that fits where a conventional conifer would quickly overpower the design.
In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations A low evergreen sphere for containers, gravel gardens and the front of a border.
A small planet with room to orbit
Use it as a solitary low accent in a rock garden, trough or front border. Give sun or bright partial shade, free drainage and enough clear space for the round outline to remain visible.
Blue against black, gold and heather tones
Low broad leaves and arching ribbons make its still, spherical geometry more expressive.
- Heuchera ‘Obsidian’ — near-black broad leaves brighten the silver-blue sphere
- Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’ — arching gold-green ribbons interrupt the static geometry
- Calluna vulgaris — fine flowers suit a similarly acidic-to-neutral, free-draining root zone
Care at a glance
Light
Sun or bright partial shade; protect from fierce afternoon heat in hot districts.
Watering
Water deeply as the surface begins to dry; never keep the roots continuously saturated.
Climate & hardiness
Cold hardy to around USDA 5b, but appreciates a cool root and shelter from drying winds.
Safety
For ornamental use only; discourage chewing or swallowing foliage and wood.
Detailed care Complete care guide Eight practical points for a dense crown and clear silver-blue colour.
Position
Give it abundant light and good air circulation. Deep shade makes the crown sparser and dulls the blue colour.
Watering
Check the growing mix with your finger and water thoroughly as soon as the top layer dries. Let all excess water drain away.
Soil
Use a loose, organic but sharply drained mix, preferably slightly acidic to neutral.
Feeding
One light application of slow-release fertiliser in spring is enough. Overfeeding opens up its naturally compact shape.
Summer protection
On a south-facing or very warm balcony, shade the pot and avoid the combination of scorching afternoon sun and dry air.
Winter
The cultivar withstands severe cold when the soil around its roots drains well. In a pot, protect the root ball above all from prolonged freezing.
Pruning
Remove only dry or damaged tips. Do not cut deeply into bare old wood, as it does not regrow reliably from there.
Monitoring
Some brown foliage inside the crown may be part of normal renewal. Widespread browning, however, calls for a check of drainage, drought stress and mites.
Development over time From a small cushion to a dense blue sphere Growth is slow and the crown fills gradually, without an abrupt change of form.
Compact young cushion
Short radial shoots create a small dense rounded plant.
Branching fills the gaps
Successive short side shoots thicken the surface and strengthen the rounded outline.
Ten-year sphere
After ten years the crown reaches about 30cm in height while remaining softly irregular rather than machine-perfect.
Mature habit & dimensions
About 10 yearsAbout 30cm high after ten yearsSlow dense growthNaturally rounded crown
Numerous short branches form a dense, softly irregular sphere; the surface is made from curved juvenile needles, not clipped scale sprays.
Form through time
Young plant → about 10 yearsEvergreenStable silver-blueGradual thickening
Young cushionA small rounded mass with visible spaces between the first radial shoots.
Established sphereAdditional short side shoots close the gaps and reinforce the naturally full outline.
The useful change is developmental rather than seasonal: an evergreen sphere becomes denser very slowly through time.
What to expect after planting: During the first year, expect mainly root establishment and small new tips. The characteristic compact sphere fills out slowly and should not be rushed with excessive fertiliser.
History & origin Cultivar origin Pieter van den Dool · Netherlands · introduced in 2017
Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Blue Planet’ did not result from a known cross. Pieter van den Dool selected it in the Netherlands after spotting a naturally differentiated branch on the older Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Boulevard’. It stood out for its lower stature, denser branching and lower susceptibility to fungal disease.
Van den Dool Cultures introduced the selection in 2017 and presented it at that year’s Polish Plant Novelties competition, where it was described as reaching about 30cm high after ten years. Its slow, compact character soon made it especially useful in small gardens and containers.
Greenleaf for Plant Nerds Science nobody asked for Botanical details for anyone who wants to know what lies behind the plant’s appearance
Two white lines beneath each needle
Prominent stomatal bands on the underside reflect light and strengthen the overall silver-blue colour.
Denser and slower than ‘Boulevard’
Shorter growth and closer branching give ‘Blue Planet’ its compact rounded character, setting it apart from the larger, looser parent selection.
Frequently asked questions
The six most useful answers before choosing its position and care routine.
01Will it become a tall conifer?
No. This is an extremely slow dwarf selection, recorded at about 30cm after ten years.
02Does it need clipping to stay round?
No. Dense radial branching makes the rounded form naturally; hard shearing damages its soft texture.
03Why is it turning green?
Insufficient light can dull the blue. Move gradually to a brighter position without exposing a stressed plant to sudden fierce heat.
04Can it live in a pot?
Yes, provided the pot drains freely and the root ball is never allowed to bake dry or sit in water.
05Can I cut into old brown wood?
Avoid it. False cypress does not reliably reshoot from leafless old wood.
06What causes brown interior needles?
Some shaded interior shedding is natural; extensive browning points to drought, waterlogging, drying wind or heat around the pot.
📦 Your plant travels protected
Every order is prepared with care so your plant arrives upright, secure and safe.
Individual protection
Plants in pots with a capacity of 3 litres or more are placed in individual boxes that hold the pot securely and reduce the risk of tipping over.
Sturdy packaging
We use reinforced cardboard designed to protect against impacts and vibration during transport.