Hinoki cypress 'Maureen'

[Kanorin]

I bought this 'Maureen' cultivar of Hinoki cypress at a local nursery in September of 2020. First Hinoki cypress for me and they have a reputation for being tough in our climate, so I was hesitant to post a thread initially...but this thing has come along way in less than 2 years, so I thought I'd share.

Here is the tree a few days after I bought it...I had already removed a few eye-poker and other problem branches, but I didn't do too much to it.


Heeled it in the ground on the side of the house overwinter and repotted in the spring of '21, reducing rootmass by about 40% or so. Potted in a plastic trainer pot - about 60% akadama / 40% pumice. Here it is after the repot. Take a look at its "apex"


I totally left it alone until fall of 2021, when I did some light cutbacks, but mainly put in a few small wires and a few guy wires to bring down a few key branches. Can't find pictures of that work.
Heeled it in again for the winter. This spring of '22 I did not repot...just let the tree do it's thing until today. Did a few more minor cutbacks and reductions on some branches that I likely will not keep or were shading out other key branches.

Also, holy crap, where did that apex come from?
Lots of more work to be done on this tree...that thick lower branch on the right will probably need to go because a) it lacks interior foliage and b) it's a little too in your face and I've pulled it about as far back as it will go, and c) there is no movement in the first half of the branch. Couple other branches will probably go soon too.

But this tree has come a long way in 20 months! I'm gonna have to start looking for a decent pot for it soon.

 

[Natty Bumppo]

What about our climate is hard on Hinoki? I live about 150 miles west of St. Louis. Bought a small Hinoki a year ago. Was impressed at how it did t in the Missouri sun all summer. Overwintered it in the garage with no problems.

 

[Natty Bumppo]

Looks very nice, by the way

 

[Kanorin]

What about our climate is hard on Hinoki? I live about 150 miles west of St. Louis. Bought a small Hinoki a year ago. Was impressed at how it did t in the Missouri sun all summer. Overwintered it in the garage with no problems.

Haha, I don’t know! A couple of club members had some Hinoki die on them and blamed it on the weather. I think you and I know that there were probably other reasons they died

I have been fairly slow in working mine, so maybe that helps. Been doing just 1 major insult per year.

 

[MSU JBoots]

Sure has come a long ways. Looking good. I’ve been on the look out for a hinoki. I found some today but $70 and all with a big swollen base that looked like maybe a bad graft site. I’ll keep looking because I really like these trees.

 

[Kanorin]

Got it in a decent pot today. Roots were a bit one sided, so I’ll work on getting it more centered on the next repot.

 

[bwaynef]

I think this tree seems to appreciate whatever you're doing for it. That apex appeared out of nowhere, that's for sure.

If you removed some of those low branches, I think it would really accentuate the movement in the trunk.

 

[Kanorin]

I think this tree seems to appreciate whatever you're doing for it. That apex appeared out of nowhere, that's for sure.

If you removed some of those low branches, I think it would really accentuate the movement in the trunk.

Thanks!
Which branch(es) are you thinking of?
This one?

 

[bwaynef]

I'd start here, though it might make sense to remove the next branch on the right as well.

 

[Kanorin]

I'd start here, though it might make sense to remove the next branch on the right as well.

Thanks for taking the time to make the virtual! I'll probably start (in late May) by thinning out or slightly changing the location of those lower branches...think on it and see how I like it. Perhaps next year I'll make the decision on what to remove.

I've had the tree for 2.5 years now and it has responded well to the 1 large insult per year guideline. I have one other hinoki (different cultivar, a Well's select), and last year I repotted and removed a lot of foliage in the same year. It looked fine last year, but this spring I am noticing that it looks more unhealthy (foliage color) and has aborted quite a few internal branches. Should have known better!

 

[Apex37]

Just curious where you put yours in the yard? He’s obviously been doing really well for you!
I was advised by local members here to treat it similar to a maple. I have one I’m growing this year and will be a test to see how it holds up this summer. I got mine in a very similar mix, I think it’s closer to 50/50.

 

[Kanorin]

Just curious where you put yours in the yard? He’s obviously been doing really well for you!
I was advised by local members here to treat it similar to a maple. I have one I’m growing this year and will be a test to see how it holds up this summer. I got mine in a very similar mix, I think it’s closer to 50/50.

Mine is on my deciduous bench - so it gets full sun, but from about noon until sunset there is a 40% shadecloth providing some shade. Your summer is probably a bit more intense and definitely longer...so you might go with even more shade where you are.

 

[Kanorin]

@bwaynef has a good eye. Removed that lower branch on the right and did some light cutbacks and branch adjustments. Also shortened the apex a tad.

 

[bwaynef]

Its looking good.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

@bwaynef has a good eye. Removed that lower branch on the right and did some light cutbacks and branch adjustments. Also shortened the apex a tad.

Done well tossing this tree in the ground for a couple years! If really looks reinvigorated!

Might want to clean up the undersides of the branches a bit more. This will allow a clear view of the branching and begin to think about branch selection seriously.

Looking forward to seeing future posts on the progress.

Cheers
DSD sends