Cupressus is a well known and famous genus that nevertheless can puzzle both the novice and expert botanist. Their common name, cypress, has also been applied to many other related plants, all belonging to their eponymous family, Cupressaceae. Even among the "true" cypresses of this genus, there has been considerable debate over the taxonomic relation between them and their close relatives. In recent years, it was discovered that cypresses of the old world were more closely related to junipers than to the cypresses of western North America. If junipers belong to a separate genus, then so too should the western cypresses, and so it was suggested to split them into a separate genus, now called Hesperocyparis, which conveniently means western cypress. This change has not been universally accepted, perhaps because there is no universal physical characteristic by which Cupressus and Hesperocyparis can be distinguished. But the genetic evidence is fairly strong, and so I have chosen to discuss them separately. As such, only the old world species will be covered here.
Cupressus is a genus of around a dozen or so species native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. Most species are found in subtropical to warm temperate areas. Some species are very drought resistant, with one even growing in the heart of the Sahara desert.
In our area, C. sempervirens, the italian cypress, is by far the most common and famous species. Its native habitat in the Mediterranean is fairly similar to that of California, and so it does well here, with mature trees surviving well even without much irrigation. The vast majority of trees are of highly vertical columnar varieties. Personally I find them a bit boring, but if you need a tree that is 50 feet tall and only 5 feet wide, it is an option. The natural form of this species is more attractive in my opinion, but is rarely seen in cultivation.
You can also see a few other species locally, most prominently including C. funebris. This species has more of a weeping habit. It doesn't seem to be popular anymore but can be seen in a few of the older parks like McKinley Park and Capitol Park. Most of the other local cypresses are native to North America, and will be covered separately under Hesperocyparis.
Cupressus is a solid role-player in our urban forest, though not an exciting one. A few other species from arid regions are probably worth trying locally, but remain largely untested currently.
Cupressus is a genus of around a dozen or so species native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. Most species are found in subtropical to warm temperate areas. Some species are very drought resistant, with one even growing in the heart of the Sahara desert.
In our area, C. sempervirens, the italian cypress, is by far the most common and famous species. Its native habitat in the Mediterranean is fairly similar to that of California, and so it does well here, with mature trees surviving well even without much irrigation. The vast majority of trees are of highly vertical columnar varieties. Personally I find them a bit boring, but if you need a tree that is 50 feet tall and only 5 feet wide, it is an option. The natural form of this species is more attractive in my opinion, but is rarely seen in cultivation.
You can also see a few other species locally, most prominently including C. funebris. This species has more of a weeping habit. It doesn't seem to be popular anymore but can be seen in a few of the older parks like McKinley Park and Capitol Park. Most of the other local cypresses are native to North America, and will be covered separately under Hesperocyparis.
Cupressus is a solid role-player in our urban forest, though not an exciting one. A few other species from arid regions are probably worth trying locally, but remain largely untested currently.