Lawson's Cypress
/ˈlɔːsənz ˈsaɪprəs/noun
A tall evergreen conifer native to southwestern Oregon and northwestern California, scientifically known as Chamaecyparis lawsoniana.
Did you know?The species name lawsoniana honors Scottish nurseryman Charles Lawson, who helped introduce the tree to European horticulture after its discovery in the Pacific Northwest.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
κυπάρισσος (kyparissos)
“Cypress tree; the word’s deeper origin is uncertain, though it became associated with the Mediterranean cypress.”
Classical Latin
Latin
cupressus
“Cypress tree, an evergreen traditionally connected with mourning and funerary landscapes.”
12th Century
Old French
cipres
“Cypress tree; inherited through Latin and later adapted into English.”
14th Century
English
cipres / cypress
“The evergreen cypress tree.”
1850s
Scientific Latin
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana
“The formal botanical name for the North American species; lawsoniana commemorates Charles Lawson.”
Modern English
English
Lawson's cypress
“The common name for this Pacific Northwest conifer, widely planted as an ornamental tree.”