BOTANICAL NAME:  Cupressus sempervirens  (koo-PRESS-us sem-per-VYE-renz) 

FAMILY:  Cupressaceae

TYPE:  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.