About
Cupressus goveniana var. goveniana is an upright, evergreen conifer that grows rapidly in its early years, with the potential to attain heights of up to 20 meters. Its foliage is dark green and scaly, releasing a noticeable fragrance when crushed. The tree produces small, football-shaped cones that emerge in September, maturing to a brown color by October and persisting on the tree year-round. This variety is commonly planted as an ornamental specimen in gardens and public spaces.
About the genus
Cupressus are robust, evergreen trees characterized by their flaking or scaly bark. They typically feature columnar or narrowly ovoid crowns, along with small, often fragrant, scale-like foliage. The female cones are small and spherical in shape.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, North-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H4
Plant details
- Plant type
- Conifers, Trees
- Habit
- Bushy, Columnar upright
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 4-8 metres
- Spread
- 2.5-4 metres
- Time to full height
- 10-20 years
- Suggested uses
- Coastal, Architectural
- Native to
- USA (California)
- Fragrance
- Foliage
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in any well-drained soil in full sun with shelter from cold, drying winds. Tolerates dry conditions when established. Can be used for hedging. Height and spread determined by soil, location and prevailing weather. It usually reaches a height of 3-5m in 10 years, to 10m in 20 years and ultimately larger. See conifer cultivation for further advice
- Pruning
- No pruning required but can be pruned to control height and spread; prune hedges in late spring
- Propagation
- Propagate by semi-ripe or hardwood cuttings from young vigorous growth in late summer
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to cypress aphid
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to various diseases including honey fungus, see Conifers: brown patches