Hinoki

Hinoki, or hinoki cypress, is a common name for a conifer in the family Cupressaceae, most often referring to Chamaecyparis obtusa, native to Japan. It is also related to Chamaecyparis pisifolia, sometimes grouped under hinoki in horticulture.

Hinoki is a tall evergreen tree, typically reaching 30–50 meters in height with a trunk diameter up to about 2 meters. The leaves are small, scale-like and arranged in flat sprays. The tree produces small, globose cones about 8–12 millimeters in diameter. The bark is reddish-brown and peels in strips.

Native to temperate forests of central and southern Japan, hinoki favors well-drained soils and can tolerate a range of pH. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental tree and for timber, including in parks and gardens. It prefers cool, moist climates but can adapt to temperate climates elsewhere.

The heartwood is pale yellow to light reddish-brown with a fine, straight grain. The wood is highly valued for its durability and resistance to decay, its light weight, and its distinctive citrus-like fragrance. Historically, hinoki wood has been used in temples and shrines, baths and tubs (ofuro), cabinetry, musical instruments, and fine carpentry.

In Japan, hinoki holds cultural significance in Shinto and traditional architecture. The species is not currently listed as endangered; however, wild populations face habitat pressures in some regions, and many plants are grown from cultivated stock.