Could you please help me with the name of a tree?

There's a tree I'm thinking of putting in my yard, but I don't know the name of it. I'm going to do my best to describe it, but I'm afraid that my best isn't going to be very good. Here goes. This tree is an evergreen that has a cone shape, sort of like a spruce. The main branches come out and hang down and then go back up at the tips, sort of like a the shape of the letter J. The all the smaller branches hang straight down from the main branches. The tree is more narrow and has fewer branches than a spruce. I live in Michigan in zone 4 or 5 and I've seen this tree planted here, although it's definitely not native here. The ones I have seen are not big, but I think they get really big.

I've been searching the Internet for pictures and other information about this tree, but it's really hard to find it without knowing what it's called. Hopefully someone here can help me out. If you guys can help me identify it, I'd also like to know what you think of the tree.

Thanks,
Rob

My guess would be Norway Spruce.
Will

Try doing a Google image search on Chamaecyparis nootkatensis pendula. That is not the current correct name for it, but probably where you get the most image hits.

Willis

Also try this one Picea breweriana

My last guess is that Will is correct. Try doing an image search on Picea Abies

Willis

Is this it?

Picea abies (Norway Spruce) photo:
http://www.pinetum.org/canon1/PCabies515_.jpg

Resin

Willis, your first guess was correct! I'm pretty sure it's the Chamaecyparis nootkatensis pendula. It's surprising that I didn't remember such a simple name! Now I can do a little reading about it before spring. I can look up the basic information about it on this site and others, but if you have any opinions you want to give me, I'm all ears.

Thanks,
Rob

The leaves of the Chamaecyparis nootkatensis pendula (I'm glad someone invented copy and paste!) look like a cedar, but from what I've read, they stink when crushed. With those qualities, I'm wondering if deer eat it or not. I don't think it would look as good if it was browsed up to the same height all the cedars in the area are.

Nootka Cypress foliage and cone (from wikipedia):

Resin

Resin, you're right. In my reading about Chamaecyparis nootkatensis pendula, I got on a tangent about cedars (since its common name is Alaska Cedar). I learned that what I've always called a cedar isn't a cedar. When I said, "the leaves look like cedar", what I should have said is, "the leaves look like Thuja occidentalis". Would that be a true statement?

Deer love Thuja occidentalis. Do they like Chamaecyparis nootkatensis pendula? I found one site that said they don't like it.

Hi Jugglerguy,

Good, that's what I needed to know. Thank you.

The Latin name de-jour is Callitropsis nootkatensis pendula. It was formerly Xanthocyparis and Chamaecyparis before that. Very cool tree. I plan on getting one of those but need to remove a Siberian Elm and cut back a Norway maple first. I want it as a backdrop for a Bloodgood japanese maple. Currently I have a weeping cultivar named Van den Akker which is extremely narrow.

Willis

Hi jugglerguy! You asked for comments so here're mine. As you are aware, this tree grows to be very large, so make sure you give it plenty of room. Which is not to say you can't plant some dispensable shrubs around it at first. IMHO it is one of the very finest of all trees. Very interesting branch structure, useful screening and windbreak plant, and excellent background plant. Lastly, maybe willis' cultivar could be used if you don't have the room for a very tall, wide tree. Willis - Can you post a snap of that grouping? It sounds lovely.

No grouping yet. The Van den Akker is in the front corner of my garage. I was hoping to buy the pendula this year and put it behind my Bloodgood which is in the back part of my yard. It would be my little slice of the Pacific Northwest. At least I always associate that Nootka and Japanese maples with the PW in my head.

Willis

Yes! It has that same connotation for me too. I don't know about Japanese maples, I guess I associate those with Wrigleyville, LOL.

Willis,
Where did you find the Van Den Akker? Locally or via mail order?
Thanks,
Mike

I got mine from Rich's Foxwillow Pines in Woodstock, IL. They don't normally do mail order, but you can always call and ask. They are very nice people over there.

PGZ5, no more references with Wrigleyville and Japanese Maples. Your giving japanese maples a bad name. :)

Willis