Small, upright, relatively fast growing evergreen tree, conifer (H 5-7 m, W 2-3 m). Crown broadly conical, dense, regular; top characteristically drooping. Bark red-brown, it peels off decoratively in narrow strips. Needles scalelike (0,2-0,4 cm), smooth, glossy, variegated, young needles bright yellow to green-yellow, later dark green. Male and female flowers separate, on the same plant, monoecious plant; male inflorescence (2-3 mm) pink-red, female cone-shaped inflorescence blue-green. Flowering period: April-May. Fruits woody cones (0,8 cm), round, dark brown. Requires deep, moderately moist, nutrient-rich soils, and sunny to half-shady sites. Easily withstands occasional drought, cold, heat, wind and urban conditoins.
These plants grow well in sun or in partial shade. Usually they tolerate more sun and heat if given enough moisture; in partial or light shade they need less moisture.
This group includes plants particullary used for geometrically shaped, regularly trimmed hedges and are most often used in this way. Such plants are: western red cedar, false cypress, yew, hornbeam, privet etc. Normally they are very tolerant to regular trimming, are easy to grow and nurturing, longlived and tough.
Conifers have woody stems (i. e. tree trunk and branches) and are also called woody plants or trees. Their leaves are transformed into needles or scales, usually being hard and leathery.
Leaves or needles remain on the plant for several consecutive years, usually 2 to 5 years. Our descriptions contain the word evergreen.
Plant can in otherwise appropriate environment survive cold down to - 23 °C.
Moist soil usually contain morefine clay parts and less sand, more humus and organic materials, they are somewhat heavier, but not hard; water does not run away quickly but stays among soil particles and is long available to plants. There is no stagnant water, soil is airy enough. Drought occurs rarely on such positions. Plants are given more or less permanent, moderate moisture.
Woody plant, normally with a remarkable tree trunk and a tree top. May have several stems - multistemmed tree. The tree top may be of different shapes, dense or thin, symetric or uneven. Most trees reach a height of more than 3 metres.
Variegated leaves show patterns of different colours, mostly white or yellow pattern on green base. Patterns can appear in forms of stripes, dots, patches, trims, uneven shapes, or colour is splashed over leaf surface; different colour patterns may have sharp borderlines or change softly one to another. Colour intensivity and needle/leaves patterns formation on certain plant may vary greatly according to general plant health and condition, age, maintanance (trimming and care); other factors such as weather, microclimate, sun or shade, presence of plant nutrients and water may also affect greatly on leaf colour. Colouring and patterns on leaves may be affected - changed - by the age of certain leaf or twig and through seasons.
Among described plants in this category we marked those, which are particulary resistant (to various environmental conditions), do not require much maintanance and thereby suitable fot planting in public areas.
