Dwarf Hinoki Cypress for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by John Haryasz | Horticulture Writer and Landscape Designer – last update on August 16, 2022

Planting instructions

The best growing location for a dwarf hinoki cypress tree is one that receives full sunlight and is relatively humid. The dwarf hinoki cypress also appreciates soils that remain consistently moist but also have good drainage. That soil should also have a neutral pH or one that is slightly acidic. When planting this shrub, give it about 3 feet of space in all directions, as that will be plenty of room to accommodate this plant’s small mature size.

Watering and nutrients

When your dwarf hinoki cypress is still young, you should plan to give it water once per week throughout the warmer parts of the growing season. Established dwarf hinoki cypresses often show an impressive ability to survive drought. However, you should provide water during extremely hot weather or prolonged droughts. Generally, you can get by without giving this plant any fertilizer. But if you do choose to fertilize, it’s best to do so in early spring with an all-purpose fertilizer mix.

Pollination

Pollination is not a topic that you’ll need to worry about while growing your dwarf hinoki cypress. This plant blooms with small flowers that are so inconspicuous that it is likely that you will not notice them at all. These flowers are bisexual, allowing for self-pollination, and tend to spread their pollen via the wind rather than relying on pollinator insects like bees and butterflies. The fruits of this plant are also unremarkable; they take the form of tiny cones that are rarely longer than half an inch.

Pruning

Ideally, you should prune your dwarf hinoki cypress during the late summer when the weather is beginning to cool down a bit. When pruning, you should focus on removing any part of the plant that shows clear signs of damage or disease. However, you should minimize the cuts you make — this plant is quite slow-growing and may take a while to respond to your pruning. Additionally, the dwarf hinoki cypress does not need much shaping and will look neat and attractive without any pruning.

Pests, diseases, and animals

Pests can be a bothersome issue for those who grow the dwarf hinoki cypress. Some of the most common pests to watch out for are juniper scale insects and bagworms. In comparison, the dwarf hinoki cypress often shows good resistance to disease. However, that does not mean that this plant is entirely immune to infections. Root rot can occur, especially if you overwater this plant. Other complications like tip blight and leaf scorch can also occur.

Achieving maximum results

The dwarf hinoki cypress is a tree that can benefit from some wind protection. In the absence of a hedge or wall to block strong winter winds, this plant is known to be vulnerable to damage. Also, you should be judicious with your pruning, as removing too much of this plant’s foliage can lead to permanent bare spots. The reason for this is that, like other evergreens, the dwarf hinoki cypress does not sprout new growth from old wood.

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