The cypress It is a conifer widely used in gardens, and there are many reasons: it tolerates pruning very well, resists frost, does not usually have pests or important diseases … If it receives the necessary care, it is a most interesting option for decorating lots in general, and also terraces and balconies.
There are many types, some are very tall, being used above all as hedges, others are lower but just as beautiful. So, How to know which one to put in each corner? Well, for that, nothing like reading its characteristics 😉.
Origin and characteristics of the cypress
Cypress is the term we use to refer to the trees of the genus Cupressus, which grow in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, both in the Old and New World. They reach heights of about 20-40 meterswith a trunk whose thickness is about 60-100 centimeters. The size is pyramidal.
The leaves are evergreen, 2 to 6mm long, lined up in opposite pairs, and greenish. It blooms in late winter. Male and female flowers appear on the same specimen, the male forming yellowish and orange oval cones, and the female spherical cones reddish or brown when ripe.
Main species
The most popular are:
Arizona cypress
Image – Wikimedia Commons / Ken Lund
Known as the Arizona cypress, it is a tree native to the southern United States and northern Mexico that reaches a height of 10 to 25 meterswith a trunk up to 50cm in diameter. Its foliage is gray-green or blue-green.
Related article:
Arizona cypress
Cupressus macrocarpa
Image – Flickr / D.Eickhoff
Known as the Monterey cypress, it is a tree native to the southwestern United States that can reach a height of 30 meters. The crown is wide, with dark green scaly leaves.
Cypressus macrocarpa var. goldcrest
Image – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Known as lemon cedar or lemon pine, it is a variety of the C. macrocarpa which reaches 12 meters in height and that it has yellowish-green foliage, which gives off a sweet lemon scent.
Related article:
Lemon pine (Cupressus macrocarpa var. Goldcrest)
Cupressus sempervirens
Image – Wikimedia Commons
Known as common cypress or Mediterranean cypress, it is a tree native to the eastern Mediterranean, which can reach 30 meters and even 42m. The habit is pyramidal, with dense dark green foliage.
Cypress leylandii
Image – Wikimedia / W. Baumgartner
Known as Leyland hybrid cypress, it is a natural hybrid that comes from the cross between Cupressus macrocarpa y Chamaecyparis nootkatensis. It reaches a height of between 20 and 25 meterswith dark green leaves.
Related article:
Cypress leylandii
Portuguese cypress
Image – Wikimedia Commons / Sergio Kasusky at Flickr
Known as the San Juan cedar or Mexican cypress, it is a tree native to Mexico and Central America that reaches up to 40 meters highwith a trunk between 1,5-2 meters in diameter. The crown is conical, with dark green leaves.
What are the care it requires?
If you want to have a copy, we recommend you take care of it as follows:
Location
Place your cypress abroadeither in full sun or in semi-shade. Due to its characteristics, it is important that, if you want to have it on the ground, it is planted at a minimum distance of ten meters from pipes and others.
Earth
- Flower pot: mulch mix (for sale here!) with 30% perlite (for sale here!).
- the garden: it is not demanding, but if the soil has good drainage it will grow better.
Irrigation
Moderate to low. During the first and especially the summer it will be necessary to water an average of 3 times a week, but the rest of the year with one or two weekly waterings can be enough.
It must be taken into account that in hot and dry climates the frequency will be higher than in those that are more temperate and / or rainy.
Subscriber
From spring to late summer It will be advisable to pay, either with chemical fertilizers or with natural ones. If you opt for the former, follow the indications specified on the product packaging since otherwise the risk of overdose will be high.
Related article:
All about fertilizers
Multiplication
Cypress multiplies by seedswhich to germinate need to be cold. For this reason, if you live in an area where there are frosts, you can sow them directly in pots with universal substrate and let nature take its course; Otherwise, you will have to stratify them in the fridge for three months at a temperature of about 6 degrees Celsius.
Planting or transplanting time
In spring, when the risk of frost has passed. If you have it in a pot, transplant every two years.
Plagues and diseases
Very resistant, but vulnerable to borer, cochineal and especially dry cypress. The first two keeping the tree well watered and cared for will not cause serious problems (and can still be treated with diatomaceous earth), but with respect to the latter, it is advisable to do preventive treatments with copper-based fungicide from spring to autumn.
Pruning
Late winter Diseased, weak and broken branches must be removed. Also, those that are growing too much have to be trimmed.
Rusticity
It depends on the species, but they all resist frosts, at least down to -4ºC. But for example the Cupressus sempervirens withstands up to -10ºC and Arizona cypress up to -18ºC.
What is cypress for?
Ornamental plant
It is widely used as a high hedge, but it is also usually the subject of topiary. In addition, it can be worked as a bonsai, or simply as a potted plant 😉.
Wood
The wood is fine in texture and gives off an aroma similar to that of cedar. It is used in construction and in carpentry.
What did you think of the cypress?
