For a majestic evergreen tree to have in the garden, the Weeping Alaskan Cedar tree 🎄 is a must-have.
It is a sophisticated, eye-catching tree with a narrow form and weeping branches.
It will stand out in your landscape design to brighten the yard year-round. But how do you grow and care for this magnificent specimen? Let’s find out with this detailed guide here.
Plant Name: Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’
Other Name: Weeping Alaskan Cedar, Alaska cypress, Yellow cypress, Nootka cypress, Alaska yellow cedar
Plant Type: Evergreen coniferous tree
Native Areas: North America
Light Requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Watering: Moderate and drought tolerant
Fertilizer: Slow-release fertilizer
Toxicity: The bark is toxic to humans and pets
Temperature: Down to -40°F
Propagation: Cuttings and layering
Growth: 50-70 feet tall and 15-25 feet wide
Soil Type: Well-drained soil
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-7
What is a Weeping Alaskan Cedar Tree?
The stunning conifers’ native range in North America is mainly found in northern California. The Weeping Alaskan Cedar is a cultivar of the Nootka Cypress hence another common name Nootka False Cypress.
In 1178 Captain James Cook, an English explorer, discovered the tree when traveling the Pacific Northwest. At the time, indigenous people valued the tree as it had rot-resistant wood used to build canoes and homes.
In the mid-19th century, the tree became popular with European gardeners as an ornamental tree with a weeping habit. The botanical name for the tree is Chamaecyparis nootkatensis, ‘Pendula.’
But it is called Pendulum because of its pyramidal shape and gracefully weeping branches towards the ground with a narrow form. The tree can reach heights of 90 feet tall and 35 feet wide.
Chamaecyparis Nootkatensis Varieties
As you can see, the Weeping Alaska Cedar is a graceful and beautiful tree. It is a popular choice for your landscape and will become the focal point in the garden, adding sophistication and drama. But there are a few varieties you can choose from:
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Glauca Pendula.’
The Glauca Pendula has stunning silvery-blue weeping foliage and is a slow-growing cultivar reaching heights of 10 feet made for small gardens. They are sometimes called the Weeping Blue Alaskan Cedar.
‘Green Arrow.’
The Green Arrow, also known as the yellow cedar or Nootka cypress, has bright green foliage. It is fast growing, reaching up to 30 feet, made for larger landscapes or to use as screening.
‘Van den Akker’
Another excellent choice growing with a compact shape is the Van Der Anker with its weeping branches, but it has a more upright growth made for smaller gardens.
Weeping Alaskan Cedar Care and Cultivation
The Weeping Alaska Cedar is a robust, cold, hardy tree and ideal for growing in the USDA hardiness zones 4-7, including Canada. Still, it needs TLC ❤️ to thrive. When provided with care, it will reward you and be worth every effort.
The important thing is to give the Weeping Alaskan Cedar space to grow with the height and branches reaching up to 12 feet wide. You will love the feathery needles that are gray-green to bluish-green.
You see the needles arranged in flattened sprays forming a dense yet lush appearance. The tree produces small cones starting green and turning brown as it matures—the sprays of foliage of soft and wispy, making for the best design accent in the landscape.
Best Lighting Needs For Alaskan Weeping Cedar
The Alaskan cedar tree thrives in sunlight than shade. Your trees need full sun for at least six hours daily to mature and flourish. Still, the trees can tolerate some partial shade in warmer climates. So, if you must plant your trees in indirect light, ensure they receive some direct sunlight.
The Preferred Soil For Weeping Alaska Cedar
The best-growing condition for soil is a well-draining one that can be clay, loamy, or sandy soil. But preferably, it should not be compact or heavy as it results in waterlogging. Consistently moist soil leads to root rot.
A soil pH of 5.0 to 6.5 is ideal. Also, provide the root system with enough space to spread and breathe.
Watering Weeping Alaskan Cedar Tree
The unique form of the Weeping Alaskan Cedar makes for an ideal landscape plant. But ensure that you plant your tree in a spot with good drainage. Young trees will need moderate watering until established, and once they mature, they are drought-tolerant to some extent.
The Alaskan Cedars need more watering during the first few years and grow with shallow roots. So, with prolonged dryness, provide deep watering at least twice a week. Whether your trees are young or mature, monitoring the soil to see if they need water remains important.
Temperature and Humidity For The Alaskan Cedar Tree
When mature, the tree can tolerate harsh winter winds, but saplings will need some protection using stakes and burlap.
The trees can withstand temperatures of -40°F (-40°C). Still, in warmer climates in hot and dry growing conditions, it does not fair well. The preferred temperature range is 50°F to 70°F (10°C to 21°C.)
For the Alaskan Cedars, humidity is essential to grow healthy, and a range of 60% is ideal. When grown in regions with minimal moisture, the tree can become stressed, impairing growth.
In such regions, we recommend watering often and adding a layer of mulch to retain water around the base. You can use something organic for soil moisture, and it will prevent weed competition.
Fertilizing Chamaecyparis Nootkatensis Glauca Pendula
The blue weeping tree with its graceful branches grows slowly and needs little feeding. We recommend using a slow-release fertilizer that contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The best time to apply the fertilizer is in the growing season.
Another essential thing when planting your tree is to do proper soil preparation by removing any debris and weeds and loosening the soil to a depth of 12 inches. Add some organic matter like manure or compost if you have a high clay content or are too heavy.
Add some acidifying fertilizers or sulfur when the soil pH is high. 🤗
Pruning The Alaskan Cedar
The Alaskan Cedar can reach heights of up to 20 feet and more, but you can control the tree size and weeping branches. You do this with little pruning and training, best done in late winter or early spring.
It helps to remove the dead or diseased branches and cut back the crossing branches or ones rubbing against each other. To help maintain the narrow spire to grow gracefully, you can prune the tips of the branches back as it helps encourage lateral growth.
How to Propagate Weeping Alaskan Cedar Tree
You can propagate through grafting or cuttings with a Weeping Blue Alaskan Cedar, Green Arrow, or another cultivar.
Cutting
Choose a branch at least six inches long that has multiple nodes looking like bumps on the stem.
Cut the branch underneath a node at a 45° angle and remove the bottom leaves on the first two nodes.
Prepare a pot with a vast space with soil that drains well and moistens it.
Dip the cut end of the branch into a rooting hormone and insert it into the soil with two of the nodes submerged.
Water well and place the container in a bright spot; it should root in four to six weeks.
You can care for your sapling until it reaches a taller size and replant it in a large pot to care for it until you can transplant it into the landscape.
Grafting
When you graft your Weeping Alaskan Cedar tree, you will join its branch with another tree rootstock to develop a new tree. It is more complicated and does need a bit of skill.
Choose a compatible rootstock with your Weeping Alaskan Cedar tree, like a Japanese Cedar or Leyland Cypress.
Cut branches the same size as the rootstock by making a diagonal cut on the rootstock and the Weeping Alaskan branch.
Next, join the cuts by wrapping them with grafting tape to hold them in place.
Keep your tree in a sunny spot with temperatures between 60°F and 70°F.
Common Pests and Diseases on Weeping Alaskan Cedar Tree
A common pest on the Weeping Alaskan Cedar is spider and spruce mites. The effects of spider mites are devastating as they feed on the foliage; if it turns yellow, you know you have a pest invasion.
The best is to take proactive measures by inspecting your Alaskan Cedar tree 🎄 to look for signs of these bugs present. If you notice yellowing needles and they fall off, you can do the following:
Use a water jet spray to help dislodge the insects.
You can apply insecticidal oil or soap.
Or use an insecticide that the tree’s tissues will absorb.
The other problem bug is the cedar bark beetle that burrows into the bark causing damage, and they spread fast. We recommend pruning away diseased and dead branches. Also, keep the area free from weeds and debris.
Use an insecticidal spray or a trunk injection to help protect the tree from these bugs. Other concerns are needle blight which is a fungal disease. The needles turn brown and fall off and weaken the tree.
Remove infected needles, correctly dispose of them, and apply a fungicide to prevent further infections. It is important to prune your tree to provide air circulation and prevent overcrowding.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Alaskan Cedar tree grows on average 12 inches per year, making it a slow-growing tree.
The Alaskan Cedar is naturally resistant to decay in saltwater and marine borer applications. The yellow cedar wood is harder than other softwoods and does not easily sliver or split.
The Alaskan Cedar prefers growing in full sun, but in hot climates, it benefits from some shade in the afternoon.
Technically it is not a cedar but a cypress. It is mainly used as a cedar, so it is categorized as such. The tree is light yellow or white.
For centuries, the cedar tree has been seen as spiritual protection, strength, and wisdom. Some cultures used it as a powerful medicine to celebrate and provide them with spiritual protection as it can purify and heal.
It is a normal cycle that the Weeping Alaskan Cedar goes through. Your tree needs to age in late summer or early fall; hence, the interior needles are no longer required. It starts to turn yellow, then brown, and the tree moves them out to make room for new growth. Still, brown needles prematurely falling off can also be a disease.
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