Soft Serve® False Cypress

Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Dow Whiting'

$74⁹⁹

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Understanding Plant Options

Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:

Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements

Container Plant Sizes

Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.

Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2" x 2" x 3"	0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts	0.20 - 0.23 dry liters
4" Container	0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts	0.35 - 0.96 dry liters
4.5" Container	0.65 dry quarts	0.72 dry liters
6" Container	1.4 dry quarts	1.59 dry liters
1 Quart	1 dry quart	1.1 dry liters
5.5" Container	1.89 dry quarts	2.08 dry liters

Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2 Quart	2 dry quarts	2.2 dry liters
#1 Container	2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts	2.49 - 4.11 dry liters
5" x 5" x 12"	3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts	3.85 - 4.74 dry liters

Mature Plants (2-4 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#2 Container	1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons	5.24 - 7.75 dry liters
#3 Container	2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons	8.14 - 12.16 dry liters

Large Plants (3-5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#5 Container	2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons	12.86 - 20.35 dry liters
#6 Container	5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons	23.12 - 26.42 dry liters
#7 Container	5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons	26.34 - 28.76 dry liters

Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.

Common Sizes:

Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet

Important Notes

Container Volume Specifications

Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents

Growing Conditions

Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment

Seasonal Availability

Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
Container plants are available throughout the growing season
Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes

Questions?

For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.

Plant Highlights

Soft Serve® False Cypress highlights at a glance!

Specifications

Brand

Proven Winners ColorChoice
Botanical Name

Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Dow Whiting'
Growing Zones

5-7
Mature Height

6 - 10 feet
Mature Spread

6 - 10 feet
Sun Exposure

Full Sun
Moisture

Moderate
Soil

Widely Adaptable
Growth Rate

Slow
Fall Color

Evergreen

Growing Zones 5-7

Find Your Growing Zone!

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!

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

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

Container plant

I put my Soft Serve in a container and it is doing great. I love to touch the plant when I go near it, it is named appropriately.

Hello Mentor,

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with your Soft Serve® False Cypress! We're delighted to hear that it's thriving in your container and that you enjoy its unique, touchable texture — the name truly does fit perfectly. Container planting is a great choice for this variety, and to keep it happy, just make sure it gets plenty of bright, indirect light and proper drainage to prevent root rot. If you ever want to explore companion plants or seasonal care tips, feel free to reach out or visit our blog for more ideas.

Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts

Container plant

I put my Soft Serve in a container and it is doing great. I love to touch the plant when I go near it, it is named appropriately.

Hello Mentor,

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with your Soft Serve® False Cypress! We love hearing that your container plant is thriving and that you enjoy its unique texture—it's truly one of those plants that invites a gentle touch. Containers are a fantastic choice for this evergreen, allowing flexibility and control over soil and drainage, which can really help it flourish. If you ever want to enhance its growth, ensuring the container has good drainage and offering occasional deep watering during dry spells can do wonders.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like tips on fertilizing or seasonal care to keep that Soft Serve happy and healthy. Your kind words brighten our day!

Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts

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