General characteristics of the cypress plant, recommendations for planting and care in a garden, how to reproduce, protection against diseases and pests, notes for gardeners, species and varieties.
Cypress (Cupressus) is a representative of the genus, which scientists attribute to the family of the same name Cypress (Cupressaceae). Since it is part of the order Pine (Pinales), then in their outlines all such plants are somewhat reminiscent of the well-known conifers. Cypresses never lose their rich crown, since they have it evergreen. In nature, the area of growth falls on the northern hemisphere of the planet, where the subtropical and tropical climate prevails. Thickets of such cypress plantations can be seen on the Mediterranean lands, the Caucasian Black Sea coast and in the Crimea. There are species found in the Sahara and the Himalayas, southern Chinese regions, distributed from Guatemala to Oregon in the American territories.
All cypress varieties that are known to botanists today, and their number ranges from 19-25 units, have a very ancient origin. Archaeologists have discovered the remains of cypress plantings in soils corresponding to the Cenozoic era, and this period began 66 million years ago.
| Family name | Cypress |
| Growth cycle | Perennial |
| Growth form | Arboreal, occasionally shrubby |
| Reproduction type | Seed or vegetative (cuttings) |
| Transplant time to the garden | March, until the buds swell or in October-November until the frost hits |
| Disembarkation scheme | The distance between seedlings depends on the species |
| Substrate | Any light and nutritious |
| Indicators of soil acidity, pH | pH 6, 5-7 (neutral) or pH 5-6 (slightly acidic) |
| Lighting level | Good diffused lighting |
| Recommended humidity | In the summer heat, abundantly once a week and spraying the crown |
| Special Requirements | Heat-loving |
| Height indicators | Up to 25 m |
| Fruit color | Green at first, turning brown |
| Fruit shape | Winged seeds in cones |
| Fruiting time | Autumn, next year from pollination |
| Decorative period | Year-round |
| Places of application | Formation of hedges, landscaping of terraces and alpine slides, alleys |
| USDA zone | 4–8 |
Plants carry their scientific name due to the place of their extensive natural growth, which is the island of Cyprus. But according to another legend, the tree began to be called in honor of the beloved god Apollo - the young man Cypress. He inadvertently killed a tame deer and was so sad that God decided to give him the opportunity to grieve forever in the form of a beautiful slender tree.
All types of cypress trees are evergreens that can look like trees or, occasionally, shrubs. Their height reaches a maximum of 25 m, but shrubs are limited to 1, 5–2 m. The trunks grow straight or curved. They are covered with a thin and smooth bark. While the shoots are young, its color is light brown, but over time it becomes grayish brown. The smoothness of the trunks is lost, their surface takes on a grooved appearance. The cypress crown is very beautiful, with pyramidal or spreading outlines. It is considered coniferous because while the cypress tree is young, its leaves are in the shape of needles, but when they reach 4 years of age, they take scaly contours.
The foliage of cypresses is small, the leaf plates grow pressed against the shoots, arranged like tiles in 4 rows. Almost the entire leaf is thus spliced with a twig, and only the top remains free. The oily gland, which is usually located on the back of the leaf, sometimes has a sharp outline. The color of the leaves of the cypress is blue-green.
Cypress trees are monoecious plants with female (megastrobila) and male (microstrobila) buds. Ripening of cones occurs two years later from their formation, while they take the form of a ball or egg. The scales on them become like thickened woody shields with many facets. Several densely spaced rows of seeds are located under the scales. The shape of the seed is slightly flattened, it has a narrowed wing, which facilitates transfer at distances from the mother cypress.
If you live in a warm climate, you can delight yourself with planting this beautiful plant in the garden, but for residents of the northern regions, you will have to be content with home cultivation of cypress trees, exposing them only in summer to the open air. In the early years, the branches stretch very rapidly, but then each year the growth will be a couple of centimeters.
Cypress: recommendations for planting and care in a garden
- Choosing a landing site. Although the plant loves high levels of light, direct sunlight is harmful to it. Therefore, it is recommended to find a place in the eastern or western location of the garden.
- Priming. Before planting a cypress seedling in open soil, it is recommended to prepare the substrate in advance. It must be carefully dug up, mixing with peat, river sand, leafy substrate and turf. In general, for cypress, the composition should have lightness, excellent drainage qualities and at the same time nutritional value.
- Planting a cypress. The best time for such an operation is spring, while it is important to keep an earthen lump, that is, the transshipment method is preferable, then the root system is least of all exposed to injuries. The size of the hole is dug so that its depth is greater than the root system. Before installing a seedling in the pit, a significant drainage layer must be poured onto the bottom, which can be medium expanded clay, pebbles, crushed stone or crushed brick. In this case, the root collar, after installing the seedling in the hole, should be on the same level with the ground. The distance between cypress saplings will directly depend on the plant variety you choose. Their future crowns should not overshadow each other. If a young specimen is planted, then a peg is immediately placed in the pit for support.
- Watering. Drying the soil for cypress is undesirable, therefore, the plant will have to be moistened often, especially in the summer, when there is no rainfall for a long time. Also, frequent watering will increase the humidity near the cypress plantations, which will have a beneficial effect on their growth. If there has been no rain for a long time, the cypress is watered twice a week, while each plant should have at least a bucket of water. If the weather is normal, not too dry, then irrigation is performed regularly every 7 days with the same portion of water. In case of drought, it is also recommended to sprinkle the crown at least once every 3 days.
- Fertilizers for cypress. While the plants are young, they need feeding during the active growing season, which lasts from mid-spring to early autumn, twice a month. It is recommended to use both superphosphate fertilizers and organic matter, which is suitable for mullein. When the cypress tree reaches the age of 4–5 years, it is rarely fed; such maintenance is performed only a couple of times a year, preferably in the spring and autumn.
- Pruning cypress. This ornamental plant responds well to cutting shoots, so you can give the crown any shape. As soon as March comes, it is recommended to remove all branches frozen and dried up during the winter. During the entire growing season, you can engage in molding several times. The amount of cut off growth should not exceed 30% of the total weight of the branches. Autumn pruning is done with great care. It is recommended to prune in the autumn only as a last resort, because in the harsh winter, such shoots can suffer and freeze. However, it is observed that autumn pruning serves to stimulate the regrowth of lateral branches. The crown will thicken, which will increase its decorative effect.
- Cypress wintering. Despite the fact that there are frost-resistant species among cypresses, plants need shelter. In October-November, frosts have not yet come, you need to water them well, since the roots are saturated with moisture. Watering is plentiful. Then the trees and shrubs of the cypress must be wrapped in non-woven material (it can be spunbond or lutrasil). Then a twine is tied on top so that the shelter does not fall off from the wind. The soil in the near-trunk circle is mulched with fallen leaves or peat chips. Gardeners note that the snow shelter often serves not only as a shelter for the cypress, but also carries some threat, since branches can break off under its weight. It is necessary in the winter after a snowfall to inspect the plants and, if necessary, shake off the snow caps frozen on the shoots. If species with sufficient height and pyramidal crowns are grown, then they are not only tied on top with ropes or twine, but also a support in the form of pegs is organized.
- The use of cypress in landscape design. Since the plants have exquisite outlines, it is customary to plant them in the form of alleys or form hedges with their help. Such evergreens in the middle of a well-groomed lawn look good. If the species has creeping shoots, then it is used to decorate alpine hills or rockeries.
How to reproduce cypress at home?
Since the seedlings of this evergreen plant are not easy to acquire, and it will be difficult to vouch for their quality, many gardeners are engaged in independent reproduction. To obtain a cypress seedling, it is recommended to carry out both seed and vegetative propagation by rooting cuttings.
Seed propagation of cypress
Cones in cypress bushes or trees are formed only by 4-5 years of age. Although the seeds in them have good germination, pre-sowing preparation is still required. Cones fully ripen after 2 years from the moment they emerge, therefore, the color of the cones ready for harvesting should not be green (this is how young and unusable cones are colored), but grayish brown.
Cypress seeds are stratified - mixed with river sand and placed in a cold place at 4-6 degrees for 3-4 months. After that, the seeds are separated from the sand and dipped in warm water for 10 hours before planting. Sowing is performed in a composition intended for growing conifers or peat-sandy soil. A layer of crushed bark of deciduous trees is sown at the bottom of the seedling box, then a substrate is laid in which the seeds are buried.
When caring for crops, regular watering is needed so that the soil never dries out, but waterlogging is unnecessary. After 30 days, the first sprouts of cypress trees will appear. The seedling growth rate is rather slow. After the seedlings have reached a height of 6 cm, they are picked in separate pots with a diameter of 7 cm and the same soil. When planting, they try to leave the root collar at the same level as before. Growing young cypress trees during the first year from sowing is only indoor. However, for the winter period, the pots with them can be moved into the cool; a glazed loggia or a veranda of the house will do.
Only in the second year can young cypress seedlings be transplanted to a prepared place in the garden with the arrival of spring heat. But many gardeners continue to grow such plants indoors for another 2-3 years, so that they become stronger and more resilient.
Propagation of cypress by cuttings
In order to root blanks cut from cypress twigs, three periods are suitable: 3-4 ten days of April, the last week of June and the first 7 days of September. Cuttings from the tops of the shoots can act as blanks, while it is important that the cuttings have a "heel". All the lower leaves-needles from the cuttings must be removed, then put the branches in a container with water and a root formation stimulant dissolved in it. So the cuttings are kept for a day and then they are planted in a substrate that was recommended for growing seedlings. But in this case, you need to put a layer of river sand on top, which is sprayed from a spray bottle.
The cuttings are buried in the soil mixture by a third of their length. From above, it is important to cover them with a glass jar or a cut plastic bottle (without a bottom). When caring for cuttings, it is important not only to keep the soil moist, but also to ventilate for 1–20 minutes every day. After a two-month period, cypress cuttings take root and, with the arrival of spring, they are transplanted into open ground.
Protection of cypress trees when grown in the garden from diseases and pests
Since cypress contains resins that serve as protection against harmful insects and diseases, the plant is protected by nature itself from diseases and pests. But if the rules of agricultural technology are violated, there is a possibility of problems. With a constant flood of soil, cypress plantations begin to suffer from root rot. Then the needles turn yellow and fall off rapidly. In this case, it is necessary to carry out treatment with fungicidal preparations, such as Fundazol. Then the rules of watering and maintenance are changed, the crown of the plant is sprayed with "Epin" - a means to stimulate growth.
As a result of a violation of the growing conditions, cypress can be affected by pests, among which the scale insect and spider mite are distinguished. In the first case, you can see shiny brown plaques and sticky bloom on the leaves, and the second harmful insect manifests itself as a thin cobweb, which eventually entangles all the shoots and the trunk. If parasites have been found, it is recommended to perform treatment with insecticidal preparations, such as Aktara, Actellik or Fitoverm. There are many similar funds on the market, the main thing is that their composition is similar. It is recommended to re-spray the cypress crown after a week in order to destroy the newly hatched pests and their eggs.
If it is noticed that the cypress shoots have begun to dry out, this indicates a reduced level of lighting and humidity. Sharp changes in temperature indicators lead to the same result. To prevent this from happening, it is important from the very beginning to choose the right place for planting a cypress bush and irrigate with water in which a small amount of "Zircon" is diluted during spring-autumn to increase stress resistance.
Notes to gardeners about the cypress tree
Since the needles and shoots of some species have a pleasant aroma, such plants are usually used to obtain aromatic oil. One of these species is the Mexican cypress (Cupressus lusitanica). Cypress oil has long been famous for its properties that can relieve rheumatic pains, serves as an antiseptic, relieves spasms and tones the human body. However, the cost of such a product is very high and therefore, both in medicine and in perfumery, it is customary to use cheaper formulations.
The wood of almost all types of cypress (with the exception of Arizona, which resembles walnut) is soft and light. Therefore, this material has found application in the construction of ships, the manufacture of pieces of furniture and various utensils (both household and church). This is due to the fact that wood not only possesses fungicidal properties, but can successfully repel insects.
Since cypress wood contains a high amount of resin, it can resist deterioration for a long time. These properties have been known for a long time, since the Egyptians used a similar material for the manufacture of sarcophagi and embalming with mummy oil. Even the famous ancient Greek writer and philosopher Plutarch insisted that all laws be written on cypress boards.
In many countries, the dark green needles of the cypress serve as a symbol of death and sorrow, which is why cypress trees are used for planting in cemeteries.
It is customary to extract oil from cypress from its nuts, but leaf blades and young twigs are also used for these purposes. The oily liquid contains substances such as terpene, pinene, camphene, terpineol, and besides them there are acids. In addition, cypress oil is used topically for hair and skin care.
Oriental healers, in particular the healers of Tibet, recommended the use of cypress oil to cleanse the body, as well as to stop diarrhea. Preparations based on it will help to cope with sweating of the legs and the whole body.
Types and varieties of cypress
Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica)
… The natural area of distribution falls on the lands of Mexico and the southwestern United States. It is characterized by frost resistance (it can endure a temperature drop down to -25 frost) and unpretentiousness. Has a spreading crown. The height does not exceed 21 m. The bark, cracking into thin plates, is colored dark brown. Over time, the plates can flake off. On young shoots, gray-green leaves grow in tiling, with a sharpening at the top. There are up to 17 known decorative forms that are common in horticulture. The most popular are:
- Compacta - has the shape of a shrub with a rounded crown, needle-shaped foliage with scaly outlines of a silvery-blue color.
- Conica - takes a tree-like shape, the height of the crown does not exceed 5 m, has the shape of a skittle.
- Fastigiata - although it grows in the form of a tree, but the shape is squat, and the resulting cones are large, delicate. The foliage is colored bluish.
- Glauca - also grows in the form of a tree, the crown has a columnar shape and silvery-gray foliage. Low frost resistance.
- The most suitable for growing outdoors are Compacta and Fastigiata, since they tolerate frost of 20 degrees. However, in the first three years from the moment of planting, shelter is still required for the winter period.
Evergreen cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)
Native lands are in the southern regions of Europe and western lands of Asia, found on the southern coast of the Crimea and the Caucasus. It has been cultivated since antiquity; it is often planted as a cemetery tree. The height can vary within 25-30 m. The outlines of the crown are pyramidal. The branches grow ascending, they are pressed quite tightly to the trunk, but its thickness is only 0.6 m. On young shoots, scaly foliage of a dark green color grows. The resulting bumps are grayish brown. When they are fully ripe, the scales on the cones diverge, opening access to the seeds, of which there can be up to 20 pieces. Frost-resistant, drought-resistant, can survive short-term frosts up to 20 degrees.
Large cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa)
This plant is native to the lands of California. Its height can be 20 m, the form of growth is tree-like, the trunk has a curvature. When the plant is young, the trunk remains upright, but over time, its branches begin to take on a curved shape, giving the plant the appearance of a huge bonsai or extraordinary sculpture. Varietal forms that are popular:
- Goldcrest Wilma - is a small-sized shrub with a lush crown or tree with a height of about 2 m. The needles that cover the shoots are of a bright light green hue.
- Variegata - differs in that on young branches the needles have whitish stains.
- Crippsii - a plant in which the leaf plates are spaced from the shoots and have subulate outlines.
Cypress Macnab (Cupressus macnabiana)
This variety is one of the frost-resistant varieties that can easily survive a drop in temperature to -25 degrees. It has a tree-like form of growth, the height ranges from 5-15 m. The crown is dense, has wide-pyramidal outlines, while the branches can hang down to the soil itself. The needles are very aromatic, with a distinct lemon note. In landscape design, it is customary to use it for group plantings or as a tapeworm.
Video about growing cypress in the garden:
