Italian Cypress Cupressus sempervirens
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ku-PRES-us sem-per-VY-renz
- Description
-
Italian cypress is a tall evergreen tree with blue-green needles in the Cupressaceae (cypress) family. Its native habitat includes a rocky mountainous location, typically near a coastline in Europe and Asia. The commercially available forms are more columnar in shape and will typically not be seen in the wild. Its rapid growth is evident in young trees. However, more mature trees experience slower, almost nonexistent growth. The Latin word sempervirens translates into 'always green'.
Becoming highly drought tolerant as the plant ages, young plants should receive adequate watering until established. To maintain its columnar habit, it should not be pruned, thus making this a low maintenance choice for your garden. If transplanting is necessary, April and September are the best months, as the roots are actively growing.
Use this columnar evergreen as an accent or planted in a row for screening. It is moderately tolerant of salt and wind breakage. Its wood retains its fragrance even after cutting as well as being hard and durable. These traits make it an excellent choice for cabinets and wardrobes. The ongoing fragrance will repel moths.
Cones can remain on a tree for a number of years. They often open by the heat generated by a forest fire, at which time the seeds will be dispersed and germinate in ash from the fire.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Infestations of mites is a common issue. Bagworms are an occasional problem. Root rot can occur in poor drainage locations. Honey fungus and canker affect many trees.
VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Collector’s Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Glauca'
Columnar form, silvery-blue foliage - 'Horizontalis'
Branches spread horizontally. - 'Stricta'
Columnar, not found in the wild. - 'Swane's Golden'
Narrow and columnar, new foliage golden-yellow. - 'Tiny Tower'
Columnar form, bluish foliage, slow growing, small form. - 'Witchita Blue'
- 'Glauca'
- 'Glauca', 'Horizontalis', 'Stricta', 'Swane's Golden', 'Tiny Tower', 'Witchita Blue'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Glauca'
Columnar form, silvery-blue foliage - 'Horizontalis'
Branches spread horizontally. - 'Stricta'
Columnar, not found in the wild. - 'Swane's Golden'
Narrow and columnar, new foliage golden-yellow. - 'Tiny Tower'
Columnar form, bluish foliage, slow growing, small form. - 'Witchita Blue'
- 'Glauca'
- 'Glauca', 'Horizontalis', 'Stricta', 'Swane's Golden', 'Tiny Tower', 'Witchita Blue'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cupressus
- Species:
- sempervirens
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Essential oils are distilled from its shoots. These oils are used for making soaps and perfume. The wood can be used for furniture and cabinets.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- East Mediterranean to Iran
- Play Value:
- Buffer
- Easy to Grow
- Fragrance
- Pieces Used in Games
- Screening
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Columnar
- Dense
- Erect
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Seed cones are dry, hard, glossy, rounded, and persistent. Open through heat.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- No flowers, pollen cones appear in the early spring.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The scale-like leaves are a dark blue-green, with a delightful fragrance when crushed.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Bark Description:
- The bark, is thin and smooth. As the bark ages, it turns from gray to gray-brown.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The stems are very upright and are slender columns when young becoming horizontal with aging.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
- Humidity
- Salt
- Wind