Friends of Belfast Botanic Gardens

Tree of the month series - this series of short articles about trees in the Belfast Botanic Gardens is compiled by members of the Friends group and Gardens staff. We aim to build up to a comprehensive archive of trees in Belfast Botanic Gardens. Each article will illustrate a tree growing in Belfast Botanic Gardens together with information from a range of sources. Click here to view the tree archive

Tree of the Month, April 2010

Pendulus Nootka cyprus or "Afghan Hound Tree"

Xanthocyparis nootkatensis 'Pendula'

Jon Pilcher

A fine rare tree introduced into cultivation in 1884. It received an Award of Garden Merit 1984 and an Award of Merit in 1988. The species is a long-lived tree of the cloud forests of North West North America.

The young example in Belfast Botanic Gardens is already producing cones. It is planted in the grass to the south of the Tropical ravine and should eventually reach about 25m.

You may find it described elsewhere under its older genera of Cupressus or Chamaecyparis

Afghan Hound tree in Belfast Botanic Gardens	Pendulus branches of Afghan Hound tree
Male cones (pollen cones) of Afghan Hound tree	Detail of pollen cones
Female cones of Afghan Hound tree

Photos taken in 2010 in Belfast Botanic Gardens. Copyright Jon Pilcher