Cypress

Cypress is the common name for many cone-bearing trees and shrubs in the cypress family, Cupressaceae. Some, like the Italian and Monterey cypress, are evergreen “true” cypresses, while others, like the bald cypress of southern swamps, drop their needles every fall.

Scientific Classification & Quick Facts

Common name	Cypress
Scientific name	Cupressaceae
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Tracheophyta
Class	Pinopsida
Order	Pinales
Type	Evergreen or deciduous conifer, tree or shrub
Habitat	Wet, swampy soils; some prefer drier sites
Native range	Southern coast of North America and Pacific coast
Height	25 to 70 feet, depending on type
Special feature	Rot-resistant wood with natural preservative oil

Name and History

The word “cypress” comes from the Old French cipres, which came from the Latin cypressus, borrowed from Greek. The most famous single cypress in the world may be the Lone Cypress, a Monterey cypress growing on a rocky point along 17-Mile Drive at Pebble Beach, California.

People have valued cypress wood for thousands of years because it is long-lasting. Ancient Egyptians are said to have used it for coffins, and the ancient Greeks and Romans used it for buildings, chests and statues. Cypress trees were also planted near temples and graves around the Mediterranean, and they are still a symbol of mourning in some countries.

What Cypress Trees Look Like

Cypress trees come in many shapes. Their small leaves are usually scale-like and pressed against the twigs, though some, like the bald cypress, have soft, flat needles. Colors range from deep green to blue-green or gray-green.

• Shape: The Italian cypress is tall and narrow like a column. The Monterey cypress can grow about 70 feet tall and, near the coast, often spreads into a wide, flat-topped crown. The Arizona cypress has a classic Christmas-tree shape, while the Gowen cypress often stays small and shrubby.
• Cones: True cypresses have small, round, woody cones, usually about 1 inch across, made of a few shield-shaped scales. Bald cypress cones are round and break apart when ripe.
• Evergreen or not: Most cypresses keep their leaves all year, but bald cypress and pond cypress are deciduous and turn rusty orange before dropping their needles in fall.
• Knees: Bald cypresses growing in water often send up woody bumps called “knees” from their roots. Scientists are still studying exactly what they do.

Where Cypress Trees Grow

Photo by: Joey Malone

True cypresses grow wild in warm, often dry places in the Northern Hemisphere, including the Mediterranean region, Asia, and western North America from California and Arizona to Mexico. They usually like sunny, well-drained ground.

Bald cypress is very different. It grows in swamps, river edges and wetlands of the southeastern United States, from Delaware south to Florida, west to Texas and up the Mississippi River valley. It can grow in standing water for long periods, and pond cypress grows in similar wet, acidic sites.

Growing Cypress at Home

Choosing a Site and Soil

Pick a site with full sun; most cypresses can handle a little shade but grow best with bright light. Give them plenty of room, because many kinds grow tall and wide. Planted in a row, they make a good privacy screen or windbreak.

Match the tree to your soil. Leyland, Italian and Arizona cypress need well-drained soil and can suffer root rot in soggy ground. Bald and pond cypress do well in moist or even wet soil, including clay, and pond cypress likes acidic soil. Shallow soil over hardpan or rock slows growth. Your local cooperative extension or soil survey office can tell you about your soil type and drainage.

Planting

Photo by: Melburnian

• Loosen the soil and remove weeds, large rocks and roots from the planting area.
• Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and two to three times as wide.
• Set the tree in the middle so the top of the root ball is level with the ground, then refill with the original soil and firm it gently to remove air pockets.
• Spread 2 to 3 inches of mulch around the tree, keeping it a few inches away from the trunk, to hold in moisture and block weeds.
• Water deeply right after planting.

Watering

Young trees need regular water during their first year or two, especially in dry weather. A deep soaking about once a week is usually better than frequent light watering. Once established, Italian, Arizona and Leyland cypress are fairly drought tolerant and should not be overwatered. Bald and pond cypress, which come from wet places, appreciate more water during dry spells. Italian cypress grows well in USDA zones 7 to 10, and Leyland cypress in zones 6 to 10.

Care

• Keep weeds and grass away from the base so they do not steal water and nutrients.
• Prune out dead, damaged or diseased branches as soon as you see them, ideally in dry weather.
• Leyland cypress handles regular trimming well and can be shaped into a hedge.
• Do not water when the ground is frozen.
• In windy coastal areas, young trees can be protected with a burlap windbreak.

Pests and Diseases

Photo by: Andrew Petro

Cypress trees are generally tough, but they can have problems. Canker diseases, caused by fungi, make branches turn brown and ooze sap, and they are a common problem on Leyland and Italian cypress. Pruning in dry weather, giving trees good air flow and avoiding stress all help. Overwatering in heavy soil can lead to root rot.

Small pests such as bagworms, spider mites, aphids and scale insects sometimes appear. Bagworms can be picked off by hand, and many small pests can be controlled with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. For serious problems, ask a local garden center or extension service for advice.

Trees Called Cypress

Many different trees carry the name “cypress.” Here are some of them:

• True cypresses: Cupressus and Hesperocyparis species, such as Italian, Monterey and Arizona cypress
• Bald cypress, pond cypress and Montezuma cypress: Taxodium species, native to North America
• False cypresses: Chamaecyparis species, such as Hinoki and Lawson cypress
• Chinese swamp cypress: Glyptostrobus pensilis
• Fujian cypress: Fokienia hodginsii
• African cypresses: Widdringtonia species
• Cypress-pines: Callitris and Actinostrobus species from Australia
• Patagonian cypress: Fitzroya cupressoides
• Cordilleran cypress: Austrocedrus chilensis
• Guaitecas cypress: Pilgerodendron uviferum
• Siberian cypress: Microbiota decussata
• Leyland cypress: a garden hybrid between Monterey cypress and Nootka cypress

Uses of Cypress Wood

Cypress wood has a long reputation for lasting a very long time. According to tradition, the original doors of Old St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome were made of cypress and were still sound after many centuries.

The heartwood of old bald cypress trees contains a natural oil, sometimes called cypressene, that helps it resist rot and insects. That is why cypress has been used for fence posts, docks, boats, shingles, siding and other outdoor projects. Wood from younger, faster-grown trees is usually less resistant to decay.

Cypress is also stable, meaning it does not easily warp or crack, and it takes paint and stain well. Left unfinished, it slowly weathers to a silvery gray, while a clear finish keeps its warm, honey-colored look. It is also used for paneling, trim and furniture indoors.

Cypress FAQs

Related: Holly