9 Remarkable Cypress Shrubs and Bushes to Grow

By Calin Oancea

4/8/20245 min read

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.

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one small green Cypress shrub in a planter
one small green Cypress shrub in a planter
a tiny low Cypress shrub around other plants
a tiny low Cypress shrub around other plants

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.

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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.

bright green Leyland Cypress stems
bright green Leyland Cypress stems
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a green Dwarf Hinoki Cypress tree
a green Dwarf Hinoki Cypress tree

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.

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feathery light green leaves of the Balm Cypress
feathery light green leaves of the Balm Cypress

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.

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Italian Cypress shrub with a tall apperance
Italian Cypress shrub with a tall apperance

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.

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a Montery Cypress tree on a coast
a Montery Cypress tree on a coast

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.

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a Noota Cypress bush with a green foilage
a Noota Cypress bush with a green foilage

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.

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white-green White Cypress Pine stems with two pine cones
white-green White Cypress Pine stems with two pine cones

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.

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a yellow green bush with evergreen apperance
a yellow green bush with evergreen apperance

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.

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Lemon Cypress

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Sources

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  1. Montery Cypress: Hesperocyparis macrocarpa (Monterey Cypress) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (ncsu.edu)

  2. Lemon Cypress: Hesperocyparis macrocarpa 'Goldcrest'| North Carolina Extension(ncsu.edu)

  3. Cypress Shrubs, Evergreen: Evergreen - Wikipedia

  4. Timber Wood: Timber and the uses of wood | Forestry England

  5. Cypress shrub maintenance: Tree & Shrub Care Guide (bhg.com)

  6. Leyland Cypress: Hesperotropsis leylandii | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (ncsu.edu)

  7. Bald Cypress: Taxodium distichum (Bald Cypress) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (ncsu.edu)

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Calin Oancea
Calin Oancea
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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.