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Italian Cypress

Scientific Name: Cupressus sempervirens Sudworth
Synonym: Cupressus horizontalis, Cupressus pyramidalis
Family: Cupressaceae

A young Cupressus sempervirens 'Stricta', the Columnar Italian Cypress

Recommended Temperature Zone:
Sunset®: 4-24,28-32
USDA: 7b-11

Sun Exposure: Full sun to part sun

Origin: Southern Europe, western Asia

Growth Habits: Evergreen tree, 40 to 60 feet tall (12-18 m), spread varies depending on cultivar, 2 to 10 feet (0.6-3 m); scale like leaves

Watering Needs: Regular water when first planted, very little to no water when established (2 to 3 years after planting), sensitive to root rot, needs good drainage

Propagation: Seeds

The species name 'sempervirens' comes from the Latine for 'evergreen'.
There are possibly two varieties:

var. sempervirens: also called 'fastigiata', 'stricta', 'pyramidalis' columnar or narrowly conical.
var. horizontalis: with horizontal branches, and a port broadly pyramidal. This variety is uncommon in the USA.

Fruiting Habits:
Female trees bear globose cones, 0.5 to 1 inch in diameter (1.2 -2.5 cm). They each have 8 to 14 scales, 8 to 20 seeds per scale.

List of All the Plants | More in the Cupressaceae family

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