Cypress
Cypress Trees: Resilient Evergreens with Unique Features and Ecological Value
Cypress trees are one of the several species of conifers that mainly constitute the genus Cupressus, as well as some of the other genera belonging to the family Cupressaceae. As with most conifers, the extensive cultivation of cypress trees has produced a variety of forms, with different sizes and colors. Most cypress species are used as ornamental trees and plants in parks, gardens, and around temples, while others are developed for their durable timber.
Types of Cypress Trees
| Scientific Classification | |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Clade | Tracheophytes |
| Division | Pinophyta |
| Class | Pinopsida |
| Order | Pinales |
| Family | Cupressaceae |
| Subfamily | Cupressoideae |
| Genus | Cupressus |
List of Different Types of Cypress Trees
The genus Cupressus includes 16-25 extant species of cypress that are divided into two clades – Old World species and New World species. Old World species generally have cones characterized by more scales (8-14), each of which has a short and wide ridge. The New World species, on the other hand, have cones featuring fewer scales each of which has a prominent narrow spike.
The name ‘cypress’ also represents bald cypress and fustic cypress, as well as several aromatic evergreen trees like cypress pine and false cypress. In eastern Canada, jack pines are also called cypress. Here are the true cypress species along with their clades.
Old World Species
- Moroccan cypress (Cupressus atlantica)
- Bhutan cypress (Cupressus cashmeriana)
- Cheng’s cypress (Cupressus chengiana)
- Yunnan cypress or South Tibet cypress (Cupressus ducloxiana or Cupressus austrotibetica)
- Saharan cypress (Cupressus dupreziana)
- Weeping cypress (Cupressus funebris)
- Tibetan cypress (Cupressus gigantea)
- Mediterranean cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)
- Tonkin cypress or Himalayan cypress (Cupressus torulosa)
- Vietnamese cypress (Cupressus vietnamensis)
New World Species
- Santa Cruz cypress (Cupressus abramsiana)
- Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica)
- Modoc cypress (Cupressus bakeri)
- Tecate cypress (Cupressus forbesii)
- Smooth Arizona cypress (Cupressus glabra)
- Californian cypress or Gowen cypress (Cupressus goveniana)
- Guadalupe cypress (Cupressus guadalupensis)
- Mexican cypress (Cupressus lusitanica)
- Macnab cypress (Cupressus macnabiana)
- Monterey cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa)
- San Pedro Martir cypress (Cupressus montana)
- Piute cypress (Cupressus nevadensis)
- Nootka cypress (Cupressus nootkatensis)
- Mendocino cypress (Cupressus pigmaea)
- El Rincon cypress (Cupressus revealiana)
- Sargent cypress (Cupressus sargentii)
- Cuyamaca cypress (Cupressus stephensonii)
Some of the cypress species that belong to genus other than Cupressus include Montezuma cypress, bald cypress, northern white cedar, Japanese cedar, giant sequoia, dawn redwood, and California redwood.
Cypress Tree
Quick Information | |
| Tree Type | Evergreen coniferous |
| Identification | Height: 16-132 ft Leaves: Scale-like, opposite pairs intersect each other, about 2-6 mm long Trunk Diameter: About 3-6 ft Bark: Sometimes smooth, but usually separates into thin strips Cones: Spherical or ovoid, about 8-40 mm long, with 4-14 scales laid out in decussate pairs Seeds: Small, about 4-7 mm long, has two narrow wings Branches: Level, variably loosely hanging Crown: Conical |
| Distribution | Western North America, northwest Africa, Central America, the Himalayas, the Middle East, northern Vietnam, southern China |
| Habitat | Dry, rocky, temperate regions |
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 7-11 |
| Growth Rate | Average to fast, 1-3 feet per year |
| Lifespan | Ranges between 100 and 300 years, some may live for 1000-2000 years |
| Growing Conditions | Sunlight: Direct to partial sunlight Soil: Well-drained, moist, sandy, loamy, clay Water: Average |
| Drought Tolerance | Excellent |
| Diseases & Pests | Cypress canker caused by fungus Seiridium cardinal; pests like cypress bark moths, spruce spider mites, and cypress tip miner cause damage |
| Reproductive System | Monoecious, some can be dioecious |
| Propagation | Either from stem cuttings or seeds |
| Wildlife Value | Different bird species take shelter in the dense foliage, deer and rodents eat cypress seedlings |
| Uses | As decorative plants and trees in gardens; as anti-dandruff, anti-aging, anti-seborrheic, and astringent agent, and fragrance; Bhutan, Monterey, and Mediterranean cypresses are useful for their timber |
| IUCN Conservation Status | Species such as Himalayan cypress is listed as Least Concern while others like Cheng’s cypress is Vulnerable |
Interesting Facts
- A fast-growing hybrid produced from Monterey cypress and Nootka cypress, called Leyland cypress (referred to as leylandii), is extensively used for decorating gardens.
- Many cypress species have evolved to survive in forest fires. They hold their seeds in closed cones for several years until the parents die, after which the seeds are released so that they can develop in the bare, burnt ground.
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