About
Cupressus macrocarpa 'Crippsii' is a rapidly growing evergreen conifer that exhibits an upright, pyramidal form. Its reddish-brown branches support golden-blue, scaly leaves. Typically, this variety attains a height of approximately 4 meters within ten years, although it may grow taller under optimal conditions. It serves well for creating screens and hedges, and can also function as a specimen tree, providing year-round visual interest.
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, Shrubs, 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
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