Leyland Cypress x Hesperotropsis leylandii
Previously known as:
- x Cupressocyparis leylandii
- x Cuprocyparis leylandii
- Description
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This plant is problematic and alternatives should be considered. Please see the suggestions in the left-hand column.
The Leyland Cypress is a hybrid fast-growing, upright, needled evergreen tree. In the early years, it can grow up to 3' per year and it grows well in a variety of soil types. The scaly reddish-brown bark displays attractive splays of gray-green needles.
It works well as screening, hedge plant, or windbreak, but is severely pest and disease prone and must be pruned regularly to maintain a tidy appearance. With a symmetrical canopy and smooth outline, they will have identical crown forms. The branches grow upright and do not droop. This strong structure is resistant to breakage. It also takes well to severe pruning, recovering nicely from severe topping.
In the Piedmont and Costal Plain of NC, it is sometimes grown to be sold as Christmas trees.
Propagation can be accomplished from stem cuttings.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Leyland Cypress is prone to many treatable and untreatable problems. Bagworm is a serious issue, the bagworms can defoliate an entire tree in a matter of a few weeks. It is also susceptible to canker and root rot, specifically Armillaria and Phytophthora root rots and Seiridium and Botryoshpaeria canker. Canker typically affects a tree following a period of drought. Both the root rots and cankers are uncurable.
Its viable seed may not be true to the mother plant.
Foliage can cause skin irritation. Wear gloves when handling.
Quick ID
- Elongated spray
- Concolorous spray
- Branches & primary brackets have spiral twist
- Leaves intermediate to scale-like
VIDEO Created by Homegrown featuring Jeff Owen, Area Extension Forestry Specialist for NC State Extension
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Blue Eyes'
- 'Castlewellan'
More compact form with gold-tipped leaves. - 'Emerald Isle'
Bright green foliage. - 'Golconda'
Year round yellow-gold foliage. - 'Gold Nugget'
Bright golden yellow foliage, compact form. - 'Gold Rider'
Branchlets are yellow with green tips in winter, deeper yellow with dark yellow margins n summer. - 'Green Spire'
Densely narrow columnar with rich green needles. - 'Haggerston Grey'
More open habit with blue-green to grey-green foliage. - 'Irish Mint'
Lighter green foliage, slower growing, superior root system. - 'Jubilee'
Yellow sprays. - 'Leighton Green'
Tall, columnar with a central leader and rich green foliage. - 'Naylor's Blue'
Most open variety, loosely branched. Blue-reen foliage.
'Rico'
- 'Robinson's Gold'
Bright gold-yellow to lemon-green foliage. - 'Silver Dust'
Wide-spreading with blue-green foliage with white variegations. - 'Star Wars'
Creamy-yellow sprays.
Short form - 'Blue Eyes'
- 'Blue Eyes', 'Castlewellan', 'Emerald Isle', 'Golconda', 'Gold Nugget', 'Gold Rider', 'Green Spire', 'Haggerston Grey', 'Irish Mint', 'Jubilee', 'Leighton Green', 'Naylor's Blue', 'Rico', 'Robinson's Gold', 'Silver Dust', 'Star Wars'
- Tags:










- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blue Eyes'
- 'Castlewellan'
More compact form with gold-tipped leaves. - 'Emerald Isle'
Bright green foliage. - 'Golconda'
Year round yellow-gold foliage. - 'Gold Nugget'
Bright golden yellow foliage, compact form. - 'Gold Rider'
Branchlets are yellow with green tips in winter, deeper yellow with dark yellow margins n summer. - 'Green Spire'
Densely narrow columnar with rich green needles. - 'Haggerston Grey'
More open habit with blue-green to grey-green foliage. - 'Irish Mint'
Lighter green foliage, slower growing, superior root system. - 'Jubilee'
Yellow sprays. - 'Leighton Green'
Tall, columnar with a central leader and rich green foliage. - 'Naylor's Blue'
Most open variety, loosely branched. Blue-reen foliage.
'Rico'
- 'Robinson's Gold'
Bright gold-yellow to lemon-green foliage. - 'Silver Dust'
Wide-spreading with blue-green foliage with white variegations. - 'Star Wars'
Creamy-yellow sprays.
Short form - 'Blue Eyes'
- 'Blue Eyes', 'Castlewellan', 'Emerald Isle', 'Golconda', 'Gold Nugget', 'Gold Rider', 'Green Spire', 'Haggerston Grey', 'Irish Mint', 'Jubilee', 'Leighton Green', 'Naylor's Blue', 'Rico', 'Robinson's Gold', 'Silver Dust', 'Star Wars'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- x Hesperotropsis
- Species:
- leylandii
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- England
- Wildlife Value:
- Provides winter cover for song and game birds.
- Play Value:
- Buffer
- Fragrance
- Pieces Used in Games
- Screening
- Textural
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wind Break
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- drought; many soils
- Dimensions:
- Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Columnar
- Erect
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10b, 10a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- It Features dark brown fruiting cones (to 3/4” across), each with 8 scales.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- Non-flowering.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The foliage are scale leaves up to 2" long, elongated spray, bluish-green, same color top and bottom. The foliage is composed of soft. pointed leaves on flattened branchlets. They are a soft green when young and will mature to a dark blue-green.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Light Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Scaly
- Bark Description:
- Scaly reddish-brown bark
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Salt
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems