Lawson's cypress Chamaecyparis lawsoniana

Lawson's cypress was discovered almost by accident in California after a botanist mysteriously disappeared on a seed hunting expedition. From this inauspicious start this tree has become one of Britain's most popular garden conifers.

Britain's most popular garden conifer has an intriguing history. In 1854 a Scottish botanist called John Jeffrey travelled to Northern California on a seed collecting expedition. He disappeared without trace and in an attempt to find him fellow botanist William Murray began to search the area in which he was last seen.

Murray was unsuccessful in that regard but did discover a striking conifer. The seeds were taken back to Scotland and planted at the Lawson Nursery in Edinburgh where it was named Lawson's cypress. In its native region it is known as the Port Orford cedar after the area in which it was found but as it is not actually a cedar many botanists prefer not to use this name.

Seeds of Chamaecyparis lawsoniana germinate in just a few weeks making it a favourite in towns, parks and churchyards but it is most commonly found in suburban gardens. There are now hundreds of cultivars with numerous colours and shapes in evidence.

Aside from forestry plantations in Britain, in the rest of Europe Lawson's cypress is primarily grown for ornamental purposes. But in Japan the timber is more highly sought after and has been known to fetch large sums for its use as coffin wood.

Although quick to establish itself and as hardy as they come, Lawson's cypress, like many evergreens, prefers the moisture-laden climes of its native habitat. So while it can survive perfectly well without heavy rainfall and sea fog it tends not to grow to the extent of those in California where specimens in this environment can reach a lofty 70m (200ft) in height.