Siberian Spreading Cypress (Microbiota Decussata) – 1 Gallon Pot

A very cool plant that looks like a cross between a juniper and a fern, the Siberian Spreading Cypress, also known as Russian Arborvitae, is a low and spreading coniferous evergreen that might reach 18 inches in height but with a spread up to 10 or 12 feet! This makes it a fine selection for beautifying and controlling erosion on embankments, slopes and hillsides. Also excellent as an accent or groundcover in landscape borders, home foundation plantings, and around garden ponds and boulders. Looks really nice under or around around Japanese maples and other small trees. The bright green to blue-green foliage is feathery, soft, and arranged in flat, fern-like sprays that gracefully arch at the tips. With the arrival of cooler temperatures in fall, the foliage transitions to bronze-purple or copper bronze to red.  This one does best in cooler climates with lower humidity. In hot and humid climates it will prefer some filtered sun or shade in the heat of the afternoon. USDA Zone 3a-7b.

Microbiota decussata is endemic to the Sikhote-Alin mountains of far-eastern Russia where it grows above the timberline on bald peaks.