Cypress Trees: Evergreen Icons of Strength and Style
There are so many wonderful varieties of evergreen trees around! Sometimes when you're out for a walk, you may find yourself referring to all of them as just Pine Trees. Understandably, the casual tree hugger is usually not immediately able to tell each type apart.
In reality, there are countless varieties of coniferous evergreen trees, and with a few moments of closer inspection, you'll notice the differences that set them apart. The Cypress tree family is a striking group that brings bold structure, evergreen color, and timeless beauty to landscapes across the country.
Today, it's all about the Cypress!
- All About Cypress
- Cypress By Name
- Top Cypress Trees at Nature Hills
- Where Cypress Shines in Landscaping
- Care & Maintenance
- Cypress Style - Evergreen All the Way!
All About Cypress
Cypress trees (Cupressus spp.) are coniferous evergreens known for their slender needles, highly aromatic foliage, fibrous bark, and distinctive cones!
Their scale-like leaves are typically pressed close to the stems, forming flattened sprays or feathery fans. These needle sprays stay green year-round, adding lush texture that feels both soft to the touch and refreshing in fragrance.
Their cones are woody and rounded, often resembling small spheres with shield-like scales that open to release seeds. Unlike the long cones of Pine, Cypress cones are compact, firm, and often decorative in their own right. Bark can range from gray-brown and shaggy to reddish and furrowed, depending on the species.
Habit-wise, Cypress trees vary from narrow, upright spires (like the Italian Cypress) to wide, pyramidal forms used in privacy screens. Some dwarf and groundcover types, such as Russian Cypress, spread low and wide, their evergreen presence hugging the earth.
Cypress By Name
Though "Cypress" is often a catch-all name, not all trees called Cypress are closely related.
What About Bald Cypress?
For example, the Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) is a deciduous conifer native to the wetlands of the southeastern United States. It sheds its feathery needles each fall, unlike the evergreen Cupressus. Its common name comes from early European settlers who thought its foliage resembled that of Old World Cypress trees.
What About False Cypress?
False Cypress (Chamaecyparis spp.) often gets lumped in with true Cypress, but botanically, they are different. While both are conifers with evergreen, scale-like foliage, False Cypress typically has softer, more finely textured sprays of needles. Their cones are smaller and less woody than those of true Cupressus, and their bark tends to peel in reddish strips.
False Cypress are highly valued in landscaping for their wide range of forms and colors – from golden dwarfs to tall pyramids with feathery blue-green foliage. They are not true Cypress, but like Bald Cypress, the resemblance in foliage and overall appearance gave rise to the shared common name.
Top Cypress Trees at Nature Hills
Here are standout Cypress varieties you'll find at NatureHills.com:
Italian Cypress
- Italian Cypress Tree – The classic columnar tree, often planted in rows for dramatic effect.
- Blue Italian Cypress Tree – A unique variation with cool blue-green foliage that stands out in formal gardens.
Bald Cypress
- Bald Cypress Tree – A deciduous conifer that thrives in swampy soils and develops iconic "knees" for stability. Its feathery green foliage turns orange-brown in fall.
- Lindsey's Skyward™ Bald Cypress – A narrow, upright form that fits well in smaller urban landscapes.
- Cascade Falls Bald Cypress – A graceful weeping form with cascading branches, a real statement piece.
- Pond Cypress Tree – A close cousin of the Bald Cypress, often found in still wetlands with tighter, upright foliage.
Arizona Cypress
- Arizona Cypress – A rugged, drought-tolerant Cypress with silvery-blue foliage and peeling bark.
- Blue Ice Arizona Cypress – Brilliant silvery-blue foliage with a frosty glow, perfect for hot, dry climates.
- Sulphurea Arizona Cypress – Golden foliage that brings a bright splash of evergreen color.
Leyland & Murray Cypress
- Leyland Cypress – A popular hybrid that grows quickly into a dense, conical form, ideal for windbreaks and privacy.
- Murray Cypress Tree – A fast-growing, disease-resistant evergreen, great for hedges and screens.
Cypress Shrubs & Groundcovers
- Celtic Pride® Siberian Cypress – A cold-hardy, low-growing, spreading evergreen with feathery foliage that bronzes in winter.
- Russian Cypress – A hardy groundcover with fern-like foliage that creeps along slopes or borders.
- Drew's Blue® Siberian Carpet Cypress – A mat-forming groundcover with striking blue-green tones.
- Goldcrest Lemon Cypress – A compact form with cheerful golden-yellow foliage and a refreshing lemon scent.
- Fuzzball® Siberian Carpet Cypress – A tidy, rounded groundcover with soft green foliage that develops bronzy tones in winter, perfect for compact spaces and borders.
Where Cypress Shines in Landscaping
Cypress trees and their relatives are incredibly versatile!
Tall columnar types like Italian Cypress make stunning vertical accents or natural privacy walls. They are also very xeric and thrive in Mediterranean climates.
Fast-growing Leyland and Murray Cypress are workhorses for windbreaks, hedgerows, and large property borders.
Bald Cypress thrives near ponds, streams, and rain gardens, while Cascade Falls Bald Cypress creates a weeping focal point.
Groundcover Cypress varieties like Celtic Pride and Russian Cypress work well on slopes, rock gardens, and as low-maintenance foundation plantings.
Many Cypress also provide shelter and food for birds and wildlife, making them both functional and eco-friendly choices.
Care & Maintenance
Keeping Cypress trees healthy is straightforward with a few basic practices:
- Soil & Water – Most Cypress prefer well-drained soil, though Bald Cypress thrives in wet soils. Watering deeply during establishment is key.
- Sunlight – Full sun is best for all types.
- Pruning – Minimal pruning is needed, usually just to shape or remove dead wood.
- Fertilizer – Feed with a balanced slow-release fertilizer in spring.
- Spacing – Give fast-growing Cypress, like the Leyland, enough room to mature, especially when planting hedges.
With the right placement, Cypress trees will reward you with year-round greenery, strength, and beauty!
Cypress Style - Evergreen All the Way!
From narrow spires to weeping cascades and swamp-loving species, Cypress trees bring a timeless elegance to gardens big and small. Their adaptability, fragrant evergreen foliage, and diverse forms make them favorites among landscapers and gardeners alike. Whether you want bold privacy, a dramatic accent, or a low-maintenance groundcover, Cypress has you covered.
Happy Planting!
