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Plant care

Nootka Cypress (Alaska Cedar) care

Chamaecyparis nootkatensis

Also called Nootka Cypress, Alaska Cedar, Yellow Cedar, Alaska Yellow Cedar.

RHS H7USDA 4-7Mildly toxic to petsIndoor 15–35 m tall

Watering rhythm

2-3weeks

Weekly during establishment; every 2–3 weeks once established

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Light

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Soil

Moist to moderately dry, well-drained loam or rocky soil; slightly acidic to neutral

Humidity

Moderate to high (50–80% RH)

Temp

-30°C to 25°C

Pet safety

Mildly toxic to pets

Mature size

15–35 m tall

Care at a glance

Light

Aim for at least 4-6 hours of direct sun on the leaves. Thrives in full sun. Tolerates light partial shade but growth slows and the pendulous habit becomes less pronounced. Best displayed as a specimen in an open position with unrestricted sky exposure. Performs exceptionally well in cool, overcast maritime climates. If your only bright window faces south, that's perfect for nootka cypress — same window any aroid would fry on.

Watering

Watering nootka cypress: weekly during establishment; every 2–3 weeks once established. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Prefers consistently moist soil but tolerates brief dry spells once established. In garden settings, irrigation during prolonged summer drought is beneficial. Tolerates seasonally wet soils but not prolonged standing water at the root collar.

Soil and pot

Nootka Cypress grows best in moist to moderately dry, well-drained loam or rocky soil; slightly acidic to neutral. Adaptable to a range of soil textures including rocky, shallow, and infertile substrates in the wild. Prefers pH 5.5–7.0. Avoid compacted, heavily alkaline, or permanently waterlogged soils. Excellent on slopes and hillside sites. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Nootka Cypress sits happiest at around Moderate to high (50–80% RH) humidity and -30°C to 25°C (-22°F to 77°F). Native to cool, fog-shrouded Pacific coastal mountains where humidity is consistently high. Tolerates drier conditions better than Chamaecyparis lawsoniana once established, but struggles in hot, arid continental climates. Maritime and sub-maritime climates are ideal. If you keep the room above year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed nootka cypress sparingly. Established trees need minimal fertilisation in adequate soils. Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in early spring if on poor soils. Avoid high-nitrogen formulations. Over-feeding produces soft growth that can be more susceptible to fungal issues. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on nootka cypress in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Climate-induced decline (warming summers) — In its native range, Alaska yellow cedar is experiencing widespread decline due to loss of insulating snowpack causing root freeze injury in spring. In garden settings, site away from frost pockets and provide adequate winter soil moisture to prevent root desiccation.
  • Seiridium canker — A fungal canker (Seiridium spp.) causes resinous, sunken lesions on stems and branch dieback in warm, wet conditions. Prune out infected branches well below visible lesions; disinfect tools between cuts. Most severe in stressed trees — maintain vigour.
  • Spider mites in drought stress — Hot, dry summers promote spider mite infestations, causing bronzing and speckling of foliage. Maintain adequate soil moisture and improve air circulation. Treat with insecticidal soap or predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis) at first sign of infestation.

Propagation

Semi-hardwood cuttings with a heel taken in late summer to autumn root under mist at 16–18°C. Seed requires cold stratification (60–90 days at 4°C) and germinates slowly. The weeping 'Pendula' cultivar must be propagated vegetatively; top-grafted specimens on upright rootstock maintain the pendulous form at a desired height. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Nootka Cypress is mildly toxic to pets. Chamaecyparis nootkatensis is not individually listed by ASPCA. The foliage contains aromatic oils with potential to cause mild gastrointestinal irritation in pets if ingested. The yellow cedar timber has also been noted to cause skin irritation in some people during woodworking. Caution advised. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Nootka Cypress care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Chamaecyparis nootkatensis?

Chamaecyparis nootkatensis is most commonly called Nootka Cypress, but it is also known as Nootka Cypress, Alaska Cedar, Yellow Cedar, Alaska Yellow Cedar. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Nootka Cypress apply identically to anything sold as Alaska Cedar.

How much light does nootka cypress need?

Nootka Cypress grows best in direct sun (at least 4-6 hours). Thrives in full sun. Tolerates light partial shade but growth slows and the pendulous habit becomes less pronounced. Best displayed as a specimen in an open position with unrestricted sky exposure. Performs exceptionally well in cool, overcast maritime climates.

How often should I water nootka cypress?

Water nootka cypress weekly during establishment; every 2–3 weeks once established. Prefers consistently moist soil but tolerates brief dry spells once established. In garden settings, irrigation during prolonged summer drought is beneficial. Tolerates seasonally wet soils but not prolonged standing water at the root collar. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is nootka cypress toxic to cats and dogs?

Nootka Cypress is mildly toxic to pets. Chamaecyparis nootkatensis is not individually listed by ASPCA. The foliage contains aromatic oils with potential to cause mild gastrointestinal irritation in pets if ingested. The yellow cedar timber has also been noted to cause skin irritation in some people during woodworking. Caution advised.

What USDA hardiness zone does nootka cypress grow in?

Nootka Cypress is rated for USDA zone 4-7 and RHS hardiness H7. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Nootka Cypress deep-dive guides

Every aspect of nootka cypress care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Nootka Cypress qualifies for 5 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Nootka Cypress is also known as Nootka Cypress, Alaska Cedar, Yellow Cedar, and Alaska Yellow Cedar.