Interwoven globose habit
Twisted axes and filamentous sprays overlap to build a dense, irregular and slightly flattened dome.
Chamaecyparis 'Tsatsumi Gold' 19cm
Normal price
€14,00
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Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Tsatsumi Gold’
Small, golden and unjustifiably cute 🪙
- Golden-yellow tips
- Twisted filamentous sprays
- Dense irregular dome
- RHS AGM 2012
Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Tsatsumi Gold’ is a small golden Hinoki cypress that seems to have woven its own luminous, irregular dome. Fine filamentous sprays interlace, bend and twist in different directions, with occasional strange flattened tips opening among them like little golden fans. Deeper green inside lends shadow and volume to the bright outer growth, making the crown look dense, alive and different from every viewpoint.
Give it a place beside a path or near a seating area, where its intricate branchlets can be seen close up. Dark stone or a deeper green background makes the gold stand out. Keep neighbouring plants lower or set slightly apart, leaving the irregular outline visible as an individual feature throughout the year.
Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Tsatsumi Gold’ received the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit in 2012.
What makes it special
A slow irregular dome of interwoven filamentous sprays, golden-yellow tips and unexpected flattened terminals.
Golden young growth
Outer tips open bright yellow over a greener, shaded interior.
Detail in every fan
Tiny scale leaves clothe flattened branchlets that turn through different planes.
Why you will love it: it provides golden light, tactile detail and sculptural movement without frequent clipping to impose character.
In the garden & on the balconyPlacement & plant combinationsGolden irregular dome · sun to light shade · about 1m wide at ten years
A luminous small-scale sculpture
Use it as a slowly evolving focal point by an entrance, at a border corner or in a Japanese-influenced composition, allowing about 1–1.2m for the crown. In a container it needs generous root room, steady moisture and free drainage.
Gold and deep green
Warm yellow gains depth beside dark purple foliage, low deep green needles and fine silver lines.
- Berberis thunbergii ‘Atropurpurea Nana’ — low plum foliage defining the golden base.
- Pinus mugo ‘Mops’ — compact deep green needles with a similarly slow rhythm.
- Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’ — fine silver lines contrasting with the dense golden dome.
Care at a glance
Light
Full sun for the strongest gold; in a very hot, reflective site, give morning sun and light afternoon shade.
Watering
Keep the root zone evenly moist and cool while the plant establishes, and water deeply through summer heat without waterlogging it.
Climate & hardiness
Very cold hardy at RHS H7, although hot, dry winds can scorch exposed golden tips.
Safety
Not intended for consumption; wear gloves while pruning and wash hands after handling.
Detailed careComplete care guideEight practical points: Position, Watering, Soil, Feeding, Pruning, Summer protection, Transplanting, Safety.
Position
Give open light and air movement, with shelter from scorching afternoon sun and dry wind in very hot districts.
Watering
Water deeply before the whole root zone dries, especially during its first two summers and in a container.
Soil
Choose cool, moderately fertile, well-drained acid to neutral soil; it tolerates some chalk but not stagnant water.
Feeding
Apply a light evergreen feed in spring only when growth is weak; excess nutrition loosens the habit.
Pruning
Remove only dead growth or stray green tips and never cut deeply into bare brown wood, which seldom reshoots.
Summer protection
Maintain an organic surface mulch away from the stem and increase deep watering during a prolonged heatwave.
Transplanting
Move it in cool weather with the root ball intact and keep its upper surface level with the surrounding soil.
Safety
Wear gloves while pruning, keep cut material away from eyes and mouth and do not treat it as edible.
Development over timeHow the twisted golden dome fills outThree stages from luminous young sprays to an interwoven irregular crown and warmer winter colour.
Yellow young sprays
Bright scale-leaved branchlets open in different directions around the low crown.
Interwoven summer dome
Filamentous sprays lengthen, twist and overlap into a dense rounded mass.
Golden winter structure
The irregular evergreen outline remains while the outer tips deepen towards warmer gold.
Ten-year habit & dimensions
Approximately 10 yearsAbout 1.3m high at ten yearsAbout 1m wide at ten yearsDense irregular dome
At approximately ten years, Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Tsatsumi Gold’ reaches about 1.3m in height and 1m in width. Twisted axes, interwoven filamentous sprays and a few irregular flattened terminals fill a dense, uneven and slightly flattened dome rather than a column or a formal cone.
Form through time
two real statesBright spring extensionDeeper gold in winter
Golden extensionYoung yellow tips illuminate the twisted, interwoven sprays.
Winter goldThe irregular dome stays dense as its outer colour deepens.
The drawings retain the interwoven globose architecture in both stages while changing the density and colour of the young growth.
What to expect after planting: Each spring, luminous tips add a little volume while older sprays become greener inside. Change is slow, and the twisted interwoven dome becomes denser with age.
History & originCultivar originA Japanese selection distributed in Europe from the early 1980s
‘Tsatsumi Gold’ originated in Japan and was distributed across Europe in the early 1980s. It is considered a possible golden sport of ‘Tsatsumi’, but its exact parentage, original selector and discovery date are unknown.
In 2012 it received the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScience nobody asked forBotanical details for anyone curious about what lies behind the plant’s appearance
Flattened shoot tips
Some slender branchlets develop broad, comb-like tips instead of ordinary cylindrical extensions. This fasciation affects the developing shoot and contributes to the irregular appearance of the intertwined foliage.
Hinoki’s pale markings
Stomatal bands form pale markings beneath the leafy branchlets. Stomata are microscopic openings that regulate gas exchange and water-vapour loss; the pale pattern is neither a flower nor dried foliage.
Frequently asked questions
Six specific answers about shape, mature size, colour, light, pruning and the origin of Tsatsumi Gold.
01What shape does it form without pruning?
It slowly forms a dense, irregular and slightly flattened globose dome of twisted, interwoven sprays.
02How large does it become?
At approximately ten years, allow about 1.3m in height and 1m in spread, with natural variation according to site and cultivation.
03Why is its interior greener?
Older shaded fans are naturally greener, while the strongest gold appears on illuminated young tips.
04Can it take strong sun?
Sun strengthens the gold, but light afternoon shelter in a very hot, reflective site reduces tip scorch.
05Does it need frequent pruning?
No. Preserve its natural twisted habit and remove only dead growth or stray young tips, without cutting deeply into brown wood.
06Is it proven to be a sport of ‘Tsatsumi’?
Not conclusively. It is regarded as a probable golden sport of ‘Tsatsumi’, but the exact parentage has not been confirmed.
📦 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.