11. Lawson Cypress

Tree Tour

Previous

Next

Lawson Cypress of horticulture is Port Orford Cedar of forestry. Native to SW Oregon and adjacent California, this species forms large trees yielding excellent wood. As lovely as useful, it has been widely planted as an ornamental because in cultivation it shows astonishing variation: no conifer varies more in color, form and foliage. Only the wood and fragrance is constant. Rainier Vista's west side, south of Stevens Way, has more than a dozen fairly routine specimens. Their round, pea-size cones, however, may contain seeds which could give rise to yellow, bright green, baby blue or other offspring. Root-rot disease now kills Lawson Cypresses so often that nurseries stock very few varieties.

Pictured below: Map showing the geographical range of Lawson Cypress.

Tree Tour Previous Next