What are the top 7 varieties of Cypress trees to cultivate?
Top Cypress Trees for Easy Growth Across Various USDA Zones
If you're looking for a conifer that thrives in diverse conditions, you'll find several excellent options among the cypress family. Here's a guide to some of the best cypress trees for easy growth in different USDA hardiness zones.
Firstly, let's clarify that the term 'cypress' refers to coniferous trees in the cypress family Cupressaceae. While false cypress (Chamaecyparis) are not true cypress, they share fast growth habits and are easy-care evergreen trees adaptable to diverse garden conditions.
Leyland Cypress (Cupresus x leylandii) and Thuja ‘Green Giant’ (Thuja plicata ‘Green Giant’) are often the top choices for fast, easy growth and broad adaptability, particularly for hedges or screens. Leyland Cypress is a quick-growing cypress, a natural hybrid cross between Monterey cypress and Nootka cypress, developing into broad, pyramid-shaped trees to 22 feet tall with dense foliage. Thuja ‘Green Giant’, although technically a thuja, is commonly grouped with cypress-like evergreens. It grows fast, is drought tolerant once established, and works well for privacy screens across many zones.
Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) and Golden Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa 'Goldcrest') are excellent for drought-tolerant sunny locations. Italian Cypress, a slender cypress that can soar above 100 feet tall at maturity, thrives best in USDA zones 7 - 11. Golden Cypress, an ornamental cypress with bright golden-green foliage, is prized for its neat conical shape and ease of care, and grows well in Mediterranean-like climates and USDA zones that match warm, dry sites.
For those in colder regions, the Glauca Nootka cypress grows to 25 feet (7.6 m) tall and thrives in USDA zones 4 - 8. Dwarf Nootka cypress cultivars, such as the "Glauca" Nootka cypress, with its blue foliage and conical growth pattern, are also available for gardens.
Monterey cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) is a large, low-maintenance tree that soars to 90 feet or more, thriving in USDA hardiness zones 7 - 11. Arizona cypress trees, with blue-green scale-like leaves and small seed cones, can grow up to 70 feet (21 m) tall and are a good choice for a live Christmas tree, with a triangular growth shape and dense foliage, growing in USDA zones 6 to 9.
In addition to these, there are true cypress trees within the Cupressus genus, such as the Mediterranean Cypress, with feathery evergreen foliage and cones like big acorns. The Pond cypress sheds its leaves in autumn, creating a golden show, and is often found in flooded landscapes but can also do well in normal backyards and tolerates drought better than the common bald cypress species.
Lastly, the Lemon Thread Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa "Lemon Thread") is a small, dwarf conifer that tops out at around 6 feet, with bright golden yellow threadlike strands on red stems, growing in USDA zones 5 - 9. The Pond Cypress (Taxodium ascendens), a deciduous cypress, can grow up to 80 feet (24 m) tall and thrives in USDA zones 5 - 9.
In summary, whether you're seeking easy conifer growth across a wide range of USDA hardiness zones or looking for specific characteristics like drought tolerance or fast growth, there's a cypress tree to suit your needs. Leyland Cypress and Thuja ‘Green Giant’ are typically the best all-around choices due to their rapid growth, low maintenance, and pest/disease tolerance. For drought-prone or Mediterranean climates, Italian Cypress and Golden Cypress stand out. And for those seeking unique and ornamental options, False Cypress varieties and the Lemon Thread Cypress offer fast-growing evergreen options with good hardiness.
- For home-and-garden enthusiasts who are into gardening and seeking a conifer that thrives in diverse conditions, Leyland Cypress (Cupresus x leylandii) and Thuja ‘Green Giant’ (Thuja plicata ‘Green Giant’) are often the top choices due to their fast growth and broad adaptability, making them ideal for hedges or screens.
- In regions where drought tolerance is a priority, Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) and Golden Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa 'Goldcrest') are excellent choices for drought-tolerant sunny locations, growing well in Mediterranean-like climates and USDA zones that match warm, dry sites.
