Dow Whiting

False Cypress

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Golden Charm' and 'Boulevard'

Summary: The plants of 'Dow Whiting' are upright while those of 'Golden Charm' are broad bushy to rounded. 'Dow Whiting' has taller plants than 'Boulevard'. The plants of 'Dow Whiting' are narrower than those of 'Golden Charm' and wider than those of 'Boulevard'. 'Dow Whiting' has medium branch density while both reference varieties have dense branching. The branches of 'Dow Whiting' have an erect attitude while those of 'Golden Charm' are weeping and those of 'Boulevard' are semi-erect. 'Dow Whiting' has shorter branches than 'Golden Charm'. The spray of 'Dow Whiting' is medium to dense while that of 'Golden Charm' is sparse and that of 'Boulevard' is sparse to medium. 'Dow Whiting' has a longer and wider spray than both reference varieties. The branchlets of 'Dow Whiting' are longer than those of both reference varieties. 'Dow Whiting' has shorter scale like leaves while 'Boulevard' has longer linear leaves. The upper side of the leaves of 'Dow Whiting' are brown green while those of 'Golden Charm' are yellow and those of 'Boulevard' are dark green.

Description:

PLANT: evergreen, upright shape, medium to dense foliage, medium green

BRANCH: medium density, erect attitude, medium stiffness, reddish brown bark
SPRAY: medium to dense, medium green stem, absent to very weak anthocyanin colouration on stem
BRANCHLET: medium density, medium green, absent to very weak anthocyanin colouration on stem

LEAF: opposite arrangement, scale like, acute apex, entire margin, involute margin fold, brown green on upper side, dark green (RHS 137A) on lower side

Origin & Breeding History: 'Dow Whiting' originated from a naturally occurring branch mutation of the Chamaecyparis pisifera variety 'Boulevard' in May 2000. The new variety was discovered by the breeder, Dow Whiting, in Highlandville, Missouri, United States, based on growth habit and appearance of the foliage. Asexual reproduction by hardwood cuttings was first conducted in November 2000, in Highlandville, Missouri.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Dow Whiting' were conducted in an outdoor container trial during the summer of 2008, in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 15 plants of the candidate variety, 10 plants of the reference variety 'Boulevard' and 3 plants of the reference variety 'Golden Charm'. The candidate variety was grown from 10 cm liners planted into 7.6 litre containers in May 2008 and transplanted into 11.4 litre containers in July 2008. Trials were arranged outdoors in rows with approximately 1 metre spacing between plants. Observations and measurements were taken on September 18, 2008. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Dow Whiting' with reference varieties 'Golden Charm' and 'Boulevard'

Plant height (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Branch length (cm)

Spray length (cm)

Spray width (cm)

Branchlet length (cm)

Leaf length (cm)

Colour of leaf (RHS)

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False Cypress: 'Dow Whiting' (left) with reference varieties 'Golden Charm' (centre) and 'Boulevard' (right)

Click on image for larger view

False Cypress: 'Dow Whiting' (left) with reference varieties 'Golden Charm' (centre) and 'Boulevard' (right)