Italian Cypress (Mediterranean Cypress)
Italian cypress is a medium-sized conifer found across the Mediterranean region. It has also been grown in colder places like North America, New Zealand, and the British Isles.
Italian Cypress
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Division | Pinophyta |
| Class | Pinopsida |
| Order | Pinales |
| Family | Cupressaceae |
| Genus | Cupressus |
| Scientific Name | Cupressus sempervirens |
Italian Cypress Tree
Italian Cypress Trees
Italian Cypress Pictures
Italian Cypress Wall
Quick Information
| Other Names | Mediterranean cypress, Tuscan cypress, pencil pine, graveyard cypress |
| Tree Type | Evergreen |
| Identification | Height: Up to 35 meters (115 feet)
Needles (Leaves): Dark green and scaly with lengths of 2-5 millimeters, and grows on round shoots Trunk Diameter: 1.5 feet Cones: ½-1 inch oval shaped brown colored with a dry, hard exterior Seeds: Tiny, flattened, brown, lacking resin blisters |
| Distribution | Libya, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Albania, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Malta, Italy, Jordan, Cyprus, Iran |
| Habitat | Dry and hilly areas |
| Hardiness Zones | 7B-11 |
| Growth Rate | Medium |
| Lifespan | 50-150 years; some have been reported to live for over 1,000 years |
| Growing Conditions | Soil Requirements: Well-drained sandy, loamy or clay, pH irrelevant
Light Requirements: Full sun Rainfall: Not mandatory; high drought tolerance Summer Conditions: Impervious to long drawn out summers Winter Conditions: Not too tolerant of cold temperatures, especially during the first year of life |
| Diseases & Pests | May suffer from cypress canker because of a fungus named Seiridium cardinal; bagworms and mites also cause problems sometimes |
| Breeding System | Monoecious |
| Propagation | Cutting and layering |
| Seedling Development | Seeds germinate slowly and may take up to a year from germination to planting. |
| Wildlife Value | Non-existent |
| Cultivars |
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| Uses | Widely used as an ornamental tree, fire-resistant wood used for construction, furniture making; Also used as an astringent, anti-dandruff, anti-aging, anti-seborrheic and as a fragrance |
| IUCN Conservation Status | Least Concern |
Mediterranean Cypress
Mediterranean Cypress Tree
Interesting Facts
- The scientific name sempervirens means evergreen in Latin.
- There is a 4,000 year-old Mediterranean cypress tree in Iran.
- This tree has been associated with mourning because of its use in cemeteries.
Cypress Mediterranean
Mediterranean Cypress Trees
Dwarf Italian Cypress
Italian Cypress Bonsai
References:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupressus_sempervirens
- https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ST225
- https://www.thetreecenter.com/italian-cypress/
- https://sites.redlands.edu/trees/species-accounts/italian-cypress/
- https://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/3413#b
- https://www.weekand.com/home-garden/article/soil-preparation-italian-cypress-18033050.php
Published on February 27th 2017 by Sudipto Chakrabarti under Cypress.
Article was last reviewed on 26th June 2023.
