Friends of Belfast Botanic Gardens Tree of the month series -
this series of short articles about trees in the Belfast Botanic
Gardens is compiled by members of the Friends group and Gardens
staff. We aim to build up to a comprehensive archive of trees in
Belfast Botanic Gardens. Each article will illustrate a tree
growing in Belfast Botanic Gardens together with information
from a range of sources. Click here to view the tree archive
Tree of the Month, March 2011 The name Chamaecyparis means
'small conifer' which is a joke as many will reach 60m or more
and it is said that no Lawson cypress in Britain has yet stopped
growing!(1) The Lawson was introduced to the UK by Lawson's
Nursery in Edinburgh in 1854, from its native area in Oregon and
NW California. It grows very well here, is tolerant of most
soils and is hardy. It has given rise to more cultivars than any
other tree species in cultivation. When grown from seed it tends
to produce a wide range of leaf colour and growth form. The many
cultivars are easi