Belfast Botanic Gardens Tree Archive

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This is one of a series of short articles about trees in the Belfast Botanic Gardens compiled by the Friends group. The tree tag number relates to the small aluminium discs, usually fixed on the tree trunk, 2 to 3m above ground level.
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis 'Pendula'
Pendulus Nootka cypress, 'Afghan hound tree'

Tag 104
54 deg 34.978N
5 deg 56.035W

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.

Until recently this was in the genus Xanthocyparis. You may find it described elsewhere under this name or the genus Cupressus.

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

Photos taken in Belfast Botanic Gardens in 2010. Copyright: Friends of Belfast Botanic Gardens.

Click here to view the rest of the tree archive