Cupressaceae (Chamaecyparis )

Protocol Information for:

Label_title:
Chamaecyparis (lawsoniana )

Family Names:

Family Scientific Name:
Cupressaceae

Family Common Name:
Cypress

Scientific Names:

Genus:
Chamaecyparis

Species:
lawsoniana

Scientific Classification:

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Common Synonym:

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Other Information:

Common Name:
Port Orford Cedar, Lawson’s Cypress

Species Code:
CHLA

Ecotype:
Coastal northern California through northern Oregon

General Distribution:
Grows well in average, moist but well-drained soils in full sun/part shade. Needs to be sheltered from wind. Does best in areas with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Found in California and Oregon, mostly from Coos Bay to the Klamath river with some additional isolated populations near the Trinity Mountains and Mount Shasta.

Known Invasiveness:

Propagation Goal:
Plants

Propagation Method:
Seed

Product Type:
Container (plug)

Stock Type:
163 ml (10 in3) container

Grow Time:
22 weeks

Target Specifications:
Stock Type: Container seedling Root System: Firm plug in container.

Propagation Collection:
Female cones are green and mature to brown. Generally ready to collect in the fall. They start to produce seed relatively early. They produce seed every year but is heavier every 4 to 5 years.

Propagation Processing/Propagule Characteristics:

Pre-Planting Propagule Treatments:
Seeds are placed in fine mesh bags into a 1% hydrogen peroxide (3:1 water/3% hydrogen peroxide) soak for 24 hours, rinsed, and placed in water for an additional 24 hours. The bags are placed in sealed containers in refrigeration at 1 to 3 °C for 30 days. It is very important to check seeds weekly. If mold is evident, seeds should be treated with 1% hydrogen peroxide.

Growing Area Preparation / Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:
Greenhouse growing facility. Seeds are directly sown into containers. Seeds are lightly covered with nursery grit. Growing medium used is 40:20:20:20 peat:composted fir bark:perlite:pumice with Nutricote controlled release fertilizer (18N:6P2O5:8K2O with minors; 180-d release rate at 21 °C) at the rate of 0.9 g Nutricote per 163 ml container..

Establishment Phase:
Germination is fairly even, and is usually complete in 3 weeks. Once the majority of germination has occurred, seedlings are fertilized for 3 weeks with soluble 12-2-14-6Ca-3Mg at 75 to 100 ppm.

Length of Establishment Phase:
4 weeks

Active Growth Phase:
During the growing season, fertilization depends on weather. Soluble fertilizer (20-9-20 NPK, 20-18-18 NPK, or 17-5-24 NPK) at a rate of 100 to 150 ppm is applied weekly throughout the growing season.

Length of Active Growth Phase:
20 weeks

Hardening Phase:
No dry-down is done to induce dormancy. Seedlings are moved to an outdoor growing area in early September.

Length of Hardening Phase:
3 to 4 weeks

Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:
Harvest Date: Mid-October Storage Conditions: Seedlings are usually outplanted in fall. No storage except in outdoor growing area. Plants are well irrigated prior to shipping and shipped in containers.

Length of Storage:

Guidelines for Outplanting / Performance on Typical Sites:

Other Comments:
USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 8 Evergreen Phytophthora lateralis, a disease introduced from Europe in the early 1900’s, has spread throughout C. lawsoniana’s native range and is a threat to this species’ persistence. Port Orford cedar has been an important lumber species throughout history and is currently commonly used in Japan. Some rodents will eat the foliage of saplings or eat the seeds but they are not a major food source. Young trees are easily killed by fire but the mature trees are fairly fire resistant.

References:
Breen P. 2019. Chamaecyparis lawsoniana. Corvallis (OR): Oregon State University, College of Agricultural Science, Department of Horticulture. URL: https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/chamaecyparis-lawsoniana (accessed 23 Oct 2019). Dorena Genetic Resource Center Propagation Records, unpublished. Missouri Botanical Garden. nd. Chamaecyparis lawsoniana. St Louis (MO): Missouri Botanical Garden. URL: http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=279607 (accessed 23 Oct 2019). Uchytil RJ. 1990. Chamaecyparis lawsoniana. In: Fire Effects Information System, Online. Missoula (MT): USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory. URL: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/chalaw/all.html (accessed 23 Oct 2019). USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (A. Murray bis) Parl. Port Orford cedar. URL: https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CHLA (accessed 23 Oct 2019).

Citation:
Riley, Lee E.; Kamakura, Renata. 2020. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Chamaecyparis lawsoniana Plants 163 ml (10 in3) container; USDA FS - Dorena Genetic Resource Center Cottage Grove, Oregon. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2026/05/26). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.

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