Chamaecyparis pisifera filifera 'Aurea' - Golden Threadleaf Falsecypress

The golden threadleaf falsecypress is a beautiful conifer rarely seen in Santa Cruz. This evergreen conifer has a nice golden ting to the awl-like leaves. You are much more likely to encounter one of many of the dwarf cultivars, such as 'Aurea Nana' or 'Mops'. This cultivar is a slow grower eventually reaching about 20' tall by about 15' wider or less.

This is a shot from the National Arboretum showing how nicely they add contrast to a landscape.

Foliage is evergreen, arranged spirally on the stems. Usually more awl-shaped than scale-like, more or less pointed at the tips and diverging from the stem. Distinct white X's on the lower surface of the branchlets. The characteristic that makes this filifera is the long string like stems of the newer growth.

A closer look at the awl-shaped leaves and the white areas on the stems.

The cones are small and round, with peltate scales, resembling a small soccer ball, but this specimen produces female reproductive structures, it does not produce and cones.

Bark is like other Chamaecyparis species.

Misidentification:
Other golden falsecypress, there are tons of golden ones but not around here. Look for the awl-shpaed leaves and the X's on the backs of the foliage.

Location:
Santa Cruz
503 Ocean View Ave, Corner of Ocean View and Broadway on the Broadway side of the building.

Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans' - Japanese Plume Cedar

This dwarf form of Cryptomeria maybe more commonly planted than the species. They tend to be smaller, multi-stemmed trees with a great summer color of bright green and a bronzy winter color. Generally described as 8-15' they do get larger than that, more likely 25-30'. 

The evergreen foliage is awl shaped like the species but the leaves are more spreading from the stem and are very soft to the touch. The turn a purplish color in the winter. Perhaps one of its most identifying characteristic.

The bark is exceptional, better than the species. Rich reddish brown color exfoliating in strips. These trees tend to be multi-stemmed with is good.

Misidentification:
Hard to say, look at the spreading awl shaped leaves, they tend to be soft, and if you are looking at them in the winter they are purplish. Not a Melaleuca....

Location:
Corralitos
Corralitos Rd close to the Market

Live Oak
4395 Court Dr.
854 38th.

Santa Cruz
219 Clinton St.

Cryptomeria japonica - Japanese Cryptomeria

Japanese Cryptomeria is a beautiful evergreen conifer seen regularly around older parts of Santa Cruz County. They are upright, narrowly pyramidal growing to 50-60'. Almost always with one strong cental leader. Most of those seen are in the 40-50 foot range indicating they have been here for a while.

Leaves are evergreen, awl shaped (more narrow and pointed than needle like) spirally arranged growing curving inward towards the stem, 1/2 to 3/4" long. They tend to be soft to the touch but sharply pointed. May develop a purplish cast in cold winter areas. 

Cones are rounded, about 1" diameter with a sharp hook on the end of the peltate scales.

These are the male cones. These are all done releasing pollen and have turned from yellow to brown. (The look like miniature Mountain Hemlock cones to me.)

Reddish brown fibrous bark exfoliates in strips. Really pretty.

Lots of cultivars, especially dwarf ones seen in bonsai but you see lots of a dwarf cultivar with soft foliage called 'Elegans'.

Misidentification: Leaves could remind one of an Araucaria heterophyllum, or perhaps a Sequoiadendron, but the stringy bark and cones are good features to look for.

Location:

Aptos

263 Aptos Beach Rd is a nice large one.

Santa Cruz

Mission Plaza as seen in the first picture

220 Maple St at the corner of Center St.

836 38th St. 2 large specimens with an 'Elegans' just up the street as 854.

Soquel
3210 N. Main St is a very nice old one.