James H. Schutte
Family
Cupressaceae
Botanical Name
CHAMAECYPARIS thyoides 'Ericoides'
Plant Common Name
Atlantic Whitecedar, Ericoides Atlantic Whitecedar
Special Notice
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
General Description
Most often seen as a semi-dwarf, rounded to cone-shaped shrub, the heath-leaved Atlantic whitecedar -- cultivar 'Ericoides' -- eventually matures into an upright, narrowly pyramidal small tree. Unlike other cultivars, the blue-green needles blush burgundy to red-violet in winter's cold, rather than bronzy purple. This selection is native to the coastal plains of the eastern United States from Maine to Florida and Mississippi. An evergreen conifer, it has reddish, gray-brown bark hidden by the dense needles that have white bands on the undersides. These short needles occur in whorls of three and are initially soft to the touch in their youth before becoming more prickly by late summer. Both male and female cones appear in late spring, and are small and rounded. The female cones become less rounded and more scaly as they ripen from dark purple to light sienna-brown.
Grow 'Ericoides' in moist, well-drained to soggy soils in full sunlight. It is useful as a dense accent tree, or grouped as a windbreak or screen on the edge of a property. The soft foliage in spring is nice to touch and examine up close, so its incorporation into a mixed border or spacious foundation bed is worthwhile.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
8 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
5 - 8
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Sunset Zone
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 15, 16, 17
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Plant Type
Needled or Scaled Evergreen
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
5'-20' / 1.5m - 6.1m
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Width
2'-6' / 0.6m - 1.8m
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Native To
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
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Soil Drainage
Average
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Soil type
Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Wet Site, Drought, Salt
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Growth Rate
Slow
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Water Requirements
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
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Habit
Pyramidal
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
None
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Fruit Color
Copper, Brown
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Light Green, Blue Green, Gray Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green, Blue Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Blue Green, Gray Green, Bronze
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Gray Green, Burgundy, Plum
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Bark Color
Sandy Brown
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
Yes
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Fine
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
No
