Soft Serve® False Cypress

Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Dow Whiting'

Proven Winners®

Soft Serve® False Cypress Delivers Silvery-Blue Shimmer with Feathery Soft Foliage Year-Round
Thrives in Zones 5-7
Grows 6-10 ft Tall
Evergreen Year-Round Color and Privacy
Fragrant Blooms in Late Spring

$26¹⁴

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Plant Size

Quart Container

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Aim for at least 6 hours of direct sun to keep the foliage dense and the color vibrant. It handles partial shade well, though you may notice the growth becomes slightly more open or "leggy" over time in lower light.
Soil: This evergreen thrives in moist, well-drained soil that is slightly acidic. If you have heavy clay, mix in some organic compost or aged bark to improve drainage since this plant hates having "wet feet" or sitting in standing water.

Watering Requirements

Keep the root ball consistently moist during the first two growing seasons to help the plant establish a deep root system. Once mature, Soft Serve is quite hardy, but inconsistent watering during a heatwave can cause the inner needles to brown and drop prematurely. Think of regular watering as insurance for maintaining that lush, soft texture.

Pruning Tips

Since this cultivar naturally grows into a tidy pyramid, you rarely need to pick up the shears. If you want to tidy the shape, do so in early spring before the new growth begins. Never cut back into the "dead zone" where there are no green needles because False Cypress cannot sprout from old wood.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a slow-release fertilizer formulated for evergreens in early spring just as the ground thaws. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers after mid-summer. Too much nitrogen late in the year encourages tender new growth that won't have time to harden off before the first hard freeze.

Delivery and Shipping

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Plant specifications
Plant Characteristics	Cold hardy, Evergreen, Compact/Dwarf, Low Maintenance, Deer-resistant, Hedge/Screen, Drought resistant, Container Friendly
Hardiness Zone	4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Sunlight	Full sun
Height	6-10 ft
Width	6-10 ft
Watering Needs	Moderate
Growth Rate	Slow
Growth Habit	Spreading, Upright
Blooms In	Spring
Flower Color	Brown, Green
Foliage Color	Green
Fragrant	Yes
Suitable Space	Outdoors
Plant Name	Arborvitae
Botanical Name	Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Dow Whiting'
Species	pisifera
Cultivar	Dow Whiting
Class	Pinopsida
Does Not Ship To	AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

Exciting Compact Conifer Soft Serve® False Cypress

For a lovely, soft look all year long, try Soft Serve® False Cypress PP#20883 (Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Dow Whiting'). Use it in your landscaped beds or in containers. The leaves are bright green on top and flecked with silver blue in full sun.

This improved selection of False Cypress showcases its grace and beauty in a compact size. But the lush, conical shape of this Proven Winner® plant is the perfect size for use as a specimen or to create an easy-care hedge.

It features the typical soft fern-like branches of the False Cypress with a rich, bright green foliage and a silver blue underside that gives it a shimmer in the breeze. The very uniform pyramidal shape and dwarf size of Soft Serve® make it a perfect choice for many landscape applications, both formal and informal.

Like a Dwarf Alberta Spruce, this is a pyramid-shaped plant. But Soft Serve® has a looser, less formal look with an airier texture. This slow grower has a top height of 10 feet and takes on its wonderful shape with no extra work on your part.

You'll love the performance of this hard-working, beautiful evergreen.

How to Use Soft Serve® False Cypress in the Landscape

There are so many effective ways to use an easy-breezy evergreen pyramid throughout your landscape!

Try a single Soft Serve® specimen tree near a staircase behind large decorative pots for a well-grounded seasonal container garden display. Or, use them to create a beautiful moment of transition from a side yard into a backyard.

Create an anchor in a long perennial border or garden bed with a series of 3, 5, 7, or 9 of them, planted in a gentle zig-zag. They'll create a wonderfully soft backdrop for upright shrub roses or hydrangeas.

They would become a prized specimen in a collection of other dwarf evergreens, like the Bird's Nest Spruce, or Baker's Colorado Blue Spruce. Soft Serve®'s upright habit and texture would add dimension, and present beautifully with other rare and unusual conifers.

Also, consider using this plant to create a solid screen to block unwanted views. If you need an 8 to 10-foot, low-maintenance hedge, plant Soft Serve measuring 3 feet from trunk to trunk. For a head start on a hedge, be sure to buy the largest plant size we have on hand.

Plant this small tree in a large decorative container and you'll gain year-round appeal and years of enjoyment! Use two containers for a sentinel display at your front door.

Love birds? You'll be thrilled by the way songbirds and quail flock to Soft Serve® False Cypress as a winter shelter.

Graceful, Soft, Fern-Like Branches
Compact Conical Conifer
Year-Round Visual Interest
Ornamental Form
Great Specimens, Ideal For Hedges & Perfect Container Plant

#ProPlantTips for Care

Select your location so it has protection from harsh winter sun and winds. Soft Serve Cypress is a good plant for cooler coastal ranges and eastern slopes in the hotter, dryer climates. Watch the water in the summer and grow this plant on the moist side.

This compact selection requires little or no pruning, but minimal pruning can be done in summer if desired to maintain it as a hedge.

Soft Serve® is extremely adaptable but prefers moist, well-drained soils with a pH of 5.5 to 6. Prepare your location with an acid planting mix if the pH is high. Amend your planting soil with about 25% Dr. Earths Acid Lovers Planting Mix and fertilize 4 times a year with Dr. Earths Acid Lovers Organic and Natural Acid Fertilizer to maintain lower pH.

Once it's planted, water it in very well, then place mulch to a depth of 3 to 4 inches. Spread the mulch out in a circle 3 feet around the trunk to keep roots cool and to cut down on surface moisture evaporation. Please, don't let the mulch touch the trunk itself!

Live in a deer area? Soft Serve® is known to be deer-resistant, however, it's always best to spray Deer Repellent the day you plant anything in "deer country".

Full Sun
Moderate Moisture Needs & Any Well-Drained Soil Location
Prune In Summer - Minimal Pruning Needed Due To Methodical Slower Growth
Low Maintenance
Deer Resistant
Salt Tolerant for Roadside Use

What a gorgeous small tree! You'll appreciate its beauty year-round. Order your Soft Serve® False Cypress from Proven Winners® and NatureHills.com today!

Explore More from Nature Hills

The Soft Serve® False Cypress joins our collection of proven winners® and evergreen shrubs that offer year-round structure and color to your landscape. This compact variety works well with other low maintenance plants and deer resistant plants for easy garden care. Learn more about incorporating false cypress into your garden design with our guide A Soft Green Touch For Your Garden - The False Cypress! and discover proper care techniques in Timing for Pruning Flowering Shrubs.

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Looks good.

Looks good.

Hi,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We’re delighted to hear that your order 'looks good'! If you have any questions or need tips on planting and caring for your new addition, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help ensure your garden thrives beautifully.

Happy gardening!

Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team

Looks good.

Looks good.

Hi,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback! We’re delighted to hear that your new plants look good—seeing your garden thrive is what we love most. If you have any questions or need tips on care to help your plants flourish even more, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to support you every step of the way.

Rooting for your garden’s success,
Your Nature Hills Plant Care Team

Soft

The Soft Serve False Cypress is perfectly named. Foliage is so soft!

Hello Couch,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with the Soft Serve® False Cypress! We’re delighted to hear that its foliage lives up to its name by feeling so soft—it’s truly one of nature’s little wonders, and we’re thrilled it’s giving your garden that lovely texture.

If you ever want tips on care or ideas for pairing it with other plants to highlight its unique qualities, feel free to reach out. Remember, this False Cypress enjoys well-drained soil and a spot where it receives some sunlight for the best growth.

Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts

Soft

The Soft Serve False Cypress is perfectly named. Foliage is so soft!

Hi Couch Potato,

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with the Soft Serve® False Cypress! We’re thrilled to hear that the foliage lives up to its lovely name with such softness—it’s one of the charming qualities that makes this plant such a favorite among gardeners. If you’re looking for tips on care or companion planting to keep your False Cypress thriving and even more beautiful, we’re here to help—just let us know!

Happy gardening, and enjoy that gorgeous, velvety texture in your landscape.

Growing with you,
Nature Hills Nursery – Your Trusted Plant Specialists

Bright color

Soft Serve really stand out in my short hedge with its bright green color. I think it even makes my grass look darker and softer.

Hello Dawn,

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience with your Soft Serve® False Cypress! We're delighted to hear that its bright green color brings such a vibrant touch to your short hedge and even makes your grass seem richer and softer. It's always exciting to see how plants can enhance existing landscapes, creating that perfect balance of color and texture.

If you're interested in keeping your Soft Serve® looking its best as it continues to grow, make sure to provide it with well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade, as it thrives in these conditions. Regular, moderate watering will help maintain that bright hue you love, especially during drier spells. You might also consider sprinkling a slow-release, balanced fertilizer in early spring to support healthy growth throughout the season.

We're thrilled Soft Serve® is shining so beautifully in your garden. Feel free to reach out with any questions or for more tips — we're always happy to help your yard flourish.

Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the mature height and width of Soft Serve® False Cypress?

Soft Serve® False Cypress reaches a mature height of 10 feet with a compact, pyramidal shape. This slow-growing dwarf conifer maintains its uniform form naturally without pruning. Plan spacing accordingly for its full mature size when planting in groups or as specimens.

What are the soil requirements for planting Soft Serve® False Cypress?

Soft Serve® False Cypress thrives in well-draining soil and tolerates a wide pH range from acidic to slightly alkaline. This adaptable evergreen performs best with consistent moisture but avoid waterlogged conditions. Shop at Nature Hills for this proven performer that adapts to most garden soils.

How much sun does Soft Serve® False Cypress need—full sun, partial shade, or both?

Soft Serve® False Cypress thrives in full sun, where its foliage develops the best silver-blue flecking on the undersides. It can tolerate some partial shade but may lose some of its distinctive color contrast. For optimal foliage color and compact growth, plant it where it receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.

How do I care for Soft Serve® False Cypress after planting, including watering and fertilizing?

Water regularly the first year to establish roots, then this drought-tolerant evergreen needs minimal care. Feed with balanced fertilizer in early spring if desired, though it thrives in average soils. Prune lightly in late winter only if needed to maintain shape.

Is Soft Serve® False Cypress deer resistant?

Soft Serve® False Cypress is generally deer resistant due to its aromatic evergreen foliage. This compact conifer's natural oils and texture typically deter browsing deer. For best protection, plant it away from heavily trafficked deer paths and consider companion plantings with other deer-resistant evergreens available at naturehills.com.

Does Soft Serve® False Cypress need pruning, and when is the best time?

Soft Serve® False Cypress requires minimal pruning since it naturally maintains its pyramidal shape. This slow-growing evergreen takes on its wonderful form with no extra work. If light shaping is needed, prune in late winter before new growth begins.

How hardy is Soft Serve® False Cypress in winter winds and sun?

Soft Serve® False Cypress is quite hardy in winter conditions due to its evergreen nature and compact, pyramidal form that resists wind damage. The dense, soft foliage provides good wind resistance while maintaining its attractive shape year-round. Plant in a location with some winter wind protection for best performance in colder zones.

Is the Soft Serve® False Cypress shipped healthy and well-rooted?

Soft Serve® False Cypress arrives with well-developed root systems ready for planting. This slow-growing Proven Winner selection establishes reliably in zones 4-8. Plant in spring or fall for best results, ensuring good soil drainage.

Is Soft Serve® False Cypress a good alternative to Dwarf Alberta Spruce for small spaces?

Yes, Soft Serve® False Cypress is an excellent alternative to Dwarf Alberta Spruce for small spaces. Both form compact pyramids reaching about 10 feet, but Soft Serve® offers a looser, more relaxed texture with attractive silver-blue undertones. Choose it for a softer, less formal look in containers or tight garden spots.

Soft Serve® False Cypress

Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Dow Whiting'