Italian Cypress
BOTANICAL NAME
:
Cupressus sempervirens
(koo-PRESS-us sem-per-VYE-renz)
FAMILY
:
CupressaceaeTYPE
: Evergreen tree
HEIGHT
: 40 to 60 feet
SPREAD
: 3 to 6 feet
FINAL SPACING
: 3-6 feet
HABIT
: Narrow columnar habit of growth forming tall, dark green columns normally no more than three feet wide. The scale-like leaves give a very fine texture to any setting. Planted three feet apart, they make a dense screen. It quickly grows much too tall for most residential landscapes, looking much like a green telephone pole.
FOLIAGE:
Trunk, bark and branches grow upright and will not droop, with a single leader; no thorns. Needs little pruning to develop a strong structure. Dark green foliage that is whorled and scale-like. No fall color change.
FLOWERS
: Inconspicuous and not showy
FRUIT
: Brown, oval, dry, hard, .5 to 1 inch.
CULTURE
: Grows in full sun. Tolerant of most soils. Drought tolerant and salt tolerant in various well-drained soils. Italian Cypress should not be pruned. Western United States in USDA hardiness zones: 7B through 11
USES: Italian Cypress is often used for framing, as a strong accent around large buildings, or in the formal landscape but does not lend itself well to many home landscapes. Screen or specimen.
PROBLEMS
:
susceptibility. Root diseases related to being planted too deeply is far too common. It is very susceptible to mites and trees are often infested.
and
are occasionally a problem.
disease can be a problem in poorly-drained soil.
is a devastating disease that has killed many trees in California.
Fungal canker in early stages:
Bases of Italian cypress tree that is far too deep in the ground and needs to have the root flares exposed:
