9 Remarkable Cypress Shrubs and Bushes to Grow
After growing multiple Cypress shrubs we found that they are one of the most interesting types of shrubs you can grow.
These evergreen shrubs come in various sizes and shapes, suitable for hedges, focal points, or ground covers.
In this article, we explore 8 remarkable cypress varieties, we will also highlight their growth habits, care requirements, and unique features and benefits.
Chamaecyparis Pisifera
This small evergreen bush, also known as Sawara Cypress that is originally native to Japan. But you can also grow this plant as a small bush (see picture), if you are regularly pruning it. The plant is grown for its wood (timber) which is used as a material for building palaces, temples, and baths.
Leyland Cypress
Leyland Cypress, reaching 15-25 m (50-80 ft), prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soil. It's a fast-growing shrub, ideal for tall privacy hedges due to its dense foliage. This hybrid is also known for its excellent sound and wind barrier properties.
Dwarf Hinoki Cypress
Dwarf Hinoki Cypress grows to about 1-2 m (3-6 ft). It loves partial shade to full sun and moist, well-drained soil. This slow-growing, compact evergreen bush is perfect for small gardens, offering a unique, sculptural form with its dark green, fan-shaped foliage.
Bald Cypress
Bald Cypress reaches up to 20-25 m (65-80 ft) and loves full sun and wet, swampy soil. Unique among cypresses, this small cypress tree is deciduous and known for its feathery, light green foliage that turns russet in fall. It's excellent for water gardens or wet areas.
Italian Cypress
This high plant can reach up to 12-20 m (40-65 ft) and thriving in full sun and well-drained soil makes its growth similar to growing Chrismas trees. Italian Cypress a slender, columnar tree is perfect for creating dramatic vertical accents in landscapes. It's drought-tolerant and ideal for Mediterranean-style gardens and easy bush planting.
Monterey Cypress
The Monterey Cypress is a majestic evergreen tree, native to the coastal regions of California it has a rugged appearance and adaptability to wind and coastal conditions. Its dense foliage, which we found can range from dark green to bluish-green, and broad, spreading canopy make it a striking choice for landscape use, especially in settings that mimic its natural, seaside habitat.
Nootka Cypress
Nootka Cypress, also known as Alaska Cedar, has weeping branches adorned with dark green, scale-like leaves. We value it for its elegant stature and adaptability to a range of growing conditions, including wet soils. These cypress shrubs are a great choice for landscaping and can grow into very tall cypress trees similar to many bushes on this list.
White Cypress Pine
White Cypress Pine grows to a height of 6-10 m (20-33 ft). This shrub prefers full sun and adapts well to a variety of soil types, including poor or sandy soils. It's characterized by its dense, glaucous foliage and conical form. The wood of White Cypress Pine is termite resistant, making it valuable for construction. In landscaping, is also used for windbreaks, screens, or as a feature tree.
The Lemon Cypress has a kind of golden-green foliage and we also found while growing it that it has a refreshing citrus scent when you touch the leaves. This compact and conical evergreen shrub is perfect for container gardening or small garden spaces, thriving in full sun and well-drained soil while also being quite resistant to shrub pruning.
Lemon Cypress
Sources
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Montery Cypress: Hesperocyparis macrocarpa (Monterey Cypress) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (ncsu.edu)
Lemon Cypress: Hesperocyparis macrocarpa 'Goldcrest'| North Carolina Extension(ncsu.edu)
Cypress Shrubs, Evergreen: Evergreen - Wikipedia
Timber Wood: Timber and the uses of wood | Forestry England
Cypress shrub maintenance: Tree & Shrub Care Guide (bhg.com)
Leyland Cypress: Hesperotropsis leylandii | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (ncsu.edu)
Bald Cypress: Taxodium distichum (Bald Cypress) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (ncsu.edu)
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Calin is in the garden industry for 5 years now and knows a lot about gardening and plants. He is the owner of this website and responsible for most of the content.