There is a huge range available with different foliage colour and form.
Cupressus cashmeriana is no exception, standing out with graceful pendulous branches of blue foliage.
Big or small, your choice
From high altitudes in northeastern India and Bhutan in the Himalayas, it experiences harsh climatic conditions.
This is to our advantage as it is extremely drought tolerant and hardy down to -12degC.
In its native habitat it can reach 45m in height but rarely reaches anywhere near that in cultivation.
The specimen at the Dunedin Botanic Garden is 8m tall after more than 20 years and is showing its beautiful pendulous habit.
It can be containerised, keeping it small if space is limited, and has been used by some as a bonsai subject.
A special tree
Cupressus cashmeriana is regarded as the national tree of Bhutan, being widely planted around monasteries and temples.
It is planted as an ornamental tree across America and Europe but is rarely seen around New Zealand and deserves to be more widely planted.
Cupressus cashmeriana can be seen in the arboretum beside Fern Gully.
From the aviary, travel down the hill and turn right to just below the Mexican border.
• Dylan Norfield is the geographic collection and arboretum curator at the Dunedin Botanic Garden.
