This store requires javascript to be enabled for some features to work correctly.
Family: Cupressaceae · Pot diameter: 11 cm · Height: 30 cm
Chamaecyparis thyoides ‘Spitsbergen’® brings the brightness of yellow-green foliage to a dense pyramid with a surprisingly soft texture. Fine, needle-like leaves clothe the shoots, giving its surface a gentle, almost downy appearance. The leading tip rises above slightly irregular branches, lending the outline a natural character and small details worth a closer look. This compact cultivar combines the clear presence of a conifer with foliage full of light and texture.
A pot beside an entrance is enough to give a planting a vertical focal point. In a border, it can stand behind lower, arching or broad-leaved plants, bringing contrasting textures together in a considered composition. Its evergreen presence maintains the main line of the planting as the seasonal accents around it change.
Bronze medal at Plantarium 2017, awarded following assessment by the Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society (KVBC).
Its appeal lies in the combination of colour, texture and natural architecture.
Yellow-green tones create bright accents in a planting. Fresh growth is a more vivid green, deepening as the needles mature.
A central leader organises the upright growth, while branching creates a dense, slightly irregular crown with an individual character.
Soft, needle-like foliage creates a finely detailed surface. It is particularly attractive beside seating or a path, where it can also be appreciated up close.
Why you will love it: It adds height and luminous texture to a planting, with detail that remains interesting throughout the year.
Choose an outdoor position with morning sun and, in particularly hot locations, light afternoon shade. Place it towards the back or centre of a mixed border, allowing room for the future crown. On a terrace, choose a position where the pot will not overheat and the foliage is sheltered from drying winds.
These combinations suit light partial shade, with humus-rich, acidic to slightly acidic soil and regular moisture. Make sure the ground around each plant's base drains well.
Sun to light partial shade. On a hot terrace, favour morning sun and shelter from the strongest afternoon heat.
Keep the rootball evenly moist, without leaving water in the saucer. Water according to the moisture in the compost, including in winter when needed.
An outdoor plant with tolerance of cold. A small pot needs extra protection from prolonged freezing, overheating and drying winds.
An ornamental plant that is not intended for consumption. Wear gloves when pruning and position it away from pets that chew plants.
In a cool garden it can receive more sun. On a hot, exposed terrace, avoid positions that trap heat and dry air. Do not keep ‘Spitsbergen’ permanently indoors.
Choose a growing medium that retains even moisture while allowing air to reach the roots. In a very chalky garden, a pot with suitable acidic compost is more practical. Avoid compacted soil around the roots.
Plant during mild weather, with the rootball already moist. Keep the base of the trunk at its previous level and water thoroughly. Clear drainage holes are essential when growing in a pot.
Check a little below the surface with a finger. As the compost starts to lose its moist feel, water to wet the whole rootball. Check more frequently in heat and less often during cold, rainy weather.
In the garden, the need for feeding depends on the soil and growth. In a pot, use a suitable conifer fertiliser during active growth, following the label. Do not feed a thirsty or stressed plant.
The natural pyramid mainly needs minor corrections. Trim only tips carrying living green foliage, during mild weather. Avoid cutting deeply into old, bare wood or removing the central leader.
Raise the pot to let excess water drain away and protect the rootball from prolonged freezing. Check moisture during dry winter spells. The evergreen crown continues to lose water.
Start by checking moisture, drainage and exposure to heat or wind. Notice whether the damage affects the tips or an entire branch. If it spreads after growing conditions improve, seek horticultural advice before applying a treatment.
After planting, consistent moisture helps the roots extend into the surrounding soil. How quickly fresh growth becomes visible depends on the season and local conditions.
Fresh tips extend the natural pyramid and the crown becomes more intricate. A compact appearance does not mean that the plant will always remain the size it was when purchased.
For garden planning, allow for an indicative long-term height of 2–3 m and a spread of about 1 m. Pot size, climate and shaping influence the eventual result; these dimensions are not a promise of growth within a fixed number of years.
Indicative long-term growth in the ground. The upright central leader and dense lateral branching need room between neighbouring plants.
The two images show successive stages of growth, not the same scale. The needle-like foliage remains evergreen; vivid fresh tips deepen to green as they mature.
What to expect: Aim for a healthy, dense crown that develops along its natural lines, with gentle adjustments when needed.
The story of Chamaecyparis thyoides ‘Spitsbergen’® begins with Chamaecyparis thyoides ‘Gizeh’, marketed as Excellent Point and introduced in 2005. A mutation on this plant gave rise to ‘Spitsbergen’: a more compact selection with pyramidal growth and bright foliage.
‘Spitsbergen’ is a 2016 selection from Eden’s Creations in Wezep, the Netherlands. In 2017, ‘Spitsbergen’ entered Plantarium as part of the Woody World collection and received a bronze medal from the KVBC. The judging panel highlighted its compact shape, soft foliage and suitability for pots and mixed planting. Kwekerij Hoekert, also in Wezep, brought it to market.
Chamaecyparis thyoides has distinct juvenile needle-like leaves and adult scale-like leaves. ‘Spitsbergen’ retains the juvenile type: its foliage remains needle-like instead of forming the flat, scaly surfaces seen in other conifers. This developmental characteristic explains its distinctive soft texture.
In the species Chamaecyparis thyoides, male and female reproductive structures develop on the same plant. The seed cones are about 6 mm across and contain small winged seeds that are dispersed by wind. During rain, the cones close again, limiting seed release in wet weather.
Position, size, pruning and the difference between bright foliage and drying growth.
‘Spitsbergen’ is intended for outdoor growing. Choose a garden, balcony or terrace with suitable light and air circulation. Keeping it permanently in a heated room does not meet its needs.
The 30 cm measurement refers to the plant currently offered. This is a compact cultivar, but it continues to grow. Plan the available space using the long-term form in the diagram rather than its present size.
The result depends on heat, wind and moisture around the roots. In a particularly hot position, favour morning sun and light afternoon shade, especially while it remains in a small pot.
Pyramidal growth is a natural characteristic. Minor adjustments to green tips are sufficient if needed. Cutting deeply into bare wood can leave gaps that do not fill again.
It is part of the cultivar's natural appearance, particularly in bright new growth. It differs from foliage turning brown, drying out or becoming brittle. If that happens, check the soil and growing conditions first.
Yes, when the compost begins to dry. Rain does not always reach a pot under cover, while evergreen foliage continues to lose water. Avoid both a dry rootball and standing water.
