How tall does the Hinoki Cypress get?

Natural hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) is a slow-growing evergreen coniferous shrub that will typically reach between four and six feet tall and just as wide. This horticultural marvel is known for its lush green foliage and unparalleled longevity, but what many people do not realize is the hinoki cypress takes quite some time before it even begins to look like a tree.
Of course, hinoki cypress trees can grow taller than six feet – there are reports of hinokis up to 30 feet tall – but those specimens must be at least 40 years old; you would need that long before any sign of true height growth would begin.
The earliest signs of hinoki cypress growth will be as a flat-topped or rounded mound of foliage. Then, as the hinoki tree becomes mature, it will develop into a pyramidal shape that, while full and lush, remains relatively short at only four to six feet tall.
In addition to its slow height growth, hinoki cypress is also a slow grower when it comes to overall width. Instead of spreading out all over the place like most plants do, hinokis stay compact and dense, reaching just one or two inches per year in terms of width.
The hinoki cypress has been known to live for centuries – some reports say up to 3,000 years – making it a prized horticultural treasure in many parts of the world. The oldest hinoki cypress groves can be found outside the city of Nagano, Japan, which was home to hinoki trees that were more than 700 years old when they were finally cut down and used as building materials for local Buddhist temples.
Hinokis are extremely slow growers but still manage to reach a fairly decent height and width through several centuries of growth. This makes them excellent large hedges or privacy screens if placed together in a row, so long as you have enough room to plant several. If not, hinoki cypress is also prized for its lush evergreen foliage and sweet-smelling wood, making it a great outdoor decoration all year round.