General characteristics of the cypress plant, recommendations for planting and care in the garden, how to propagate, protection from diseases and pests, notes for gardeners, types and varieties.

Cypress (Cupressus) is a member of a genus that scientists place in the cypress family of the same name (Cupressaceae). Since it is part of the order Pine (Pinales), then in their outlines all such plants are somewhat reminiscent of conifers that are well known to us. Cypress trees never lose their rich crown, since it is evergreen. In nature, the growing area is in the northern hemisphere of the planet, where a subtropical and tropical climate prevails. Thickets of such cypress plantations can be seen on the Mediterranean lands, the Caucasian coast of the Black Sea and in the Crimea. There are species found in the Sahara and Himalayas, southern Chinese regions, distributed from Guatemala to Oregon in the American territories.

All cypress varieties that are known to botanists today, and their numbers range from 19–25 units, have a very ancient origin. Archaeologists have discovered the remains of cypress plantings in soils corresponding to the Cenozoic era, and this period began 66 million years ago.

Family name	Cypress
Growth cycle	Perennial
Growth form	Tree-like, occasionally shrubby
Type of reproduction	Seed or vegetative (cuttings)
Time to transplant to the garden	March, until the buds swell or in October-November, before frost hits
Disembarkation scheme	The distance between seedlings depends on the species
Substrate	Any light and nutritious
Soil acidity indicators, pH	pH 6.5–7 (neutral) or pH 5–6 (slightly acidic)
Lighting level	Good diffused lighting
Recommended humidity	In the summer heat, generously once a week and spray the crown
Special requirements	Heat-loving
Altitude indicators	Up to 25 m
Fruit color	Initially green, becoming brown
Fruit shape	Winged seeds in cones
Fruiting time	Autumn, on next year from pollination
Decorative period	Year-round
Places of application	Formation of hedges, landscaping of terraces and alpine slides, alleys
USDA zone	4–8

The plants get their scientific name due to the location of their extensive natural growth, which is the island of Cyprus. But according to another legend, the tree began to be named in honor of the beloved god Apollo - the young man Cypress. He carelessly killed a tame deer and was so sad that God decided to give him the opportunity to grieve forever in the form of a beautiful slender tree.

All types of cypress trees are evergreen plants that can look like trees or occasionally shrubs. Their height reaches a maximum of 25 m, but shrubs are limited to 1.5–2 m. The trunks grow straight or curved. They are covered with thin and smooth-to-touch bark. While the shoots are young, their color is light brown, but over time it becomes grayish-brown. The smoothness of the trunks is lost, their surface takes on a grooved appearance. The cypress crown is very beautiful, has a pyramidal or spreading outline. It is considered a conifer because while the cypress tree is young, its leaves have the shape of needles, but upon reaching 4 years of age, they take on scaly contours.

The foliage of cypress trees is small, the leaf plates grow pressed to the shoots, arranged like tiles in 4 rows. Almost the entire leaf is thus fused with the branch, and only the tip remains free. The oil gland, which is usually located on the back side of the leaf, sometimes has a sharp outline. The leaf color of cypress is blue-green.

Cypress trees are monoecious plants with female (megastrobilus) and male (microstrobilian) cones. The ripening of cones occurs two years after their formation, and they take the shape of a ball or egg. The scales on them become like thickened woody shields with a large number of edges. Under the scales there are several densely placed rows of seeds. The shape of the seed is slightly flattened; it has a narrowed wing, which facilitates its transfer over distances from the mother cypress.

If you live in a warm climate, you can delight yourself with planting this beautiful plant in the garden, but for residents of the northern regions, they will have to be content with growing cypress trees at home, displaying them only in the summer open air. The branches stretch out very quickly in the first years, but then each year the growth will be a couple of centimeters.

1. Choosing a landing site.Although the plant loves high levels of light, direct sunlight is harmful to it. Therefore, it is recommended to find a place in the eastern or western location of the garden.
2. Priming.Before planting a cypress seedling in open soil, it is recommended to prepare the substrate in advance. It must be carefully dug up, mixed with peat, river sand, leaf substrate and turf. In general, for cypress the composition should have lightness, excellent drainage qualities and at the same time nutritional value.
3. Cypress planting. The best time For such an operation it is spring, and it is important to preserve the earthen lump, that is, the transshipment method is preferable, then root system least susceptible to injury. The size of the hole is dug such that its depth is greater than the root system. Before installing a seedling in a hole, it is necessary to pour a significant drainage layer on the bottom, which can be medium expanded clay, pebbles, crushed stone or crushed brick. In this case, after installing the seedling in the hole, the root collar should be flush with the ground. The distance between cypress seedlings will directly depend on the plant variety you choose. Their future crowns should not shade each other. If a young specimen is planted, then a peg is immediately placed in the hole for support.
4. Watering.Drying the soil for cypress is undesirable, so the plant will have to be moistened often, especially in the summer, when there is no precipitation for a long time. Also, frequent watering will help increase the humidity near the cypress plantings, which will have a beneficial effect on their growth. If there has been no rain for a long time, the cypress is watered twice a week, with at least a bucket of water per plant. If the weather is normal, not too dry, then watering is carried out regularly once every 7 days with the same portion of water. During drought, it is also recommended to sprinkle the crown at least once every 3 days.
5. Fertilizers for cypress.While the plants are young, they need feeding during the active growing season, which lasts from mid-spring to early autumn, twice a month. It is recommended to use both superphosphate fertilizers and organic matter, such as mullein. When the cypress tree reaches the age of 4–5 years, it is rarely fed; such maintenance is carried out only a couple of times a year, preferably in spring and autumn period.
6. Cypress pruning.This ornamental plant responds well to cutting its shoots, so you can give the crown any shape. As soon as March arrives, it is recommended to remove all branches that have frozen and dried out during the winter. During the entire growing season, you can do molding several times. The amount of cut shoots should not exceed 30% of the total mass of branches. Autumn pruning is done with great care. It is recommended to carry out pruning in the autumn only as a last resort, because in a harsh winter such shoots can suffer and freeze. However, it is observed that autumn pruning stimulates the regrowth of lateral branches. The crown will thicken, which will increase its decorative effect.
7. Wintering cypress.Despite the fact that there are frost-resistant species among cypress trees, the plants need shelter. In October-November, before frost sets in, you need to water them well, as the roots are saturated with moisture. Watering is carried out abundantly. Then the cypress trees and shrubs must be wrapped in non-woven material (it can be spunbond or lutrasil). Then a string is tied around the top so that the shelter does not fall off from the wind. The soil in the tree trunk circle is mulched with fallen leaves or peat chips. Gardeners note that a snow shelter often serves not only as a shelter for the cypress, but also poses some threat, since branches can break off under its weight. In winter, after a snowfall, it is necessary to inspect the plants and, if necessary, shake off the snow caps frozen on the shoots. If species with sufficient height and pyramidal crowns are grown, then they are not only tied with ropes or twine on top, but also supported in the form of pegs.
8. The use of cypress in landscape design. Since the plants have exquisite outlines, it is customary to plant them in the form of alleys or to form hedges with their help. Such evergreen plantings in the middle of a well-groomed lawn look good. If the species has creeping shoots, then it is used to decorate alpine slides or rockeries.

How to propagate cypress at home?

Since seedlings of this evergreen plant are not easy to acquire, and it will be difficult to vouch for their quality, many gardeners are engaged in independent propagation. To obtain a cypress seedling, it is recommended to carry out both seed and vegetative propagation, rooting cuttings.

Seed propagation of cypress.Cones on cypress bushes or trees are formed only by 4–5 years of age. Although the seeds in them have good germination, pre-sowing preparation will still be required. Cones fully ripen 2 years after their appearance, so it is necessary that the color of the cones ready for collection is not green (this is how young and unsuitable cones are colored), but grayish-brown.

Cypress seeds are stratified - mixed with river sand and placed in a cold place at 4-6 degrees for 3-4 months. After this, the seeds are separated from the sand and dipped in water for 10 hours before planting. warm water. Sowing is carried out in a composition intended for growing coniferous plants or peat-sand soil. A layer of crushed deciduous tree bark is sown at the bottom of the seedling box, then a substrate is laid into which the seeds are buried.

When caring for crops, regular watering is necessary so that the soil never dries out, but waterlogging is also unnecessary. After 30 days, the first cypress sprouts will appear. The growth rate of seedlings is quite slow. After the seedlings reach a height of 6 cm, they are picked into separate pots with a diameter of 7 cm and the same soil. When planting, they try to leave the root collar at the same level as before. During the first year from sowing, young cypress trees are grown only indoors. However, in winter, pots with them can be moved to a cool place; a glazed loggia or veranda at home is suitable.

Only in the second year can young cypress seedlings be transplanted to a prepared place in the garden with the arrival of spring warmth. But many gardeners continue to grow such plants indoors for another 2-3 years so that they become stronger and more resilient.

Cypress propagation by cuttings.In order to root blanks cut from cypress branches, three periods are suitable: the 3rd–4th decade of April, the last week of June and the first 7 days of September. The blanks can be trimmings from the tops of the shoots, and it is important that the cuttings have a “heel”. All lower needle leaves must be removed from the cuttings, then the branches must be placed in a container with water and a root formation stimulator dissolved in it. So the cuttings are kept for 24 hours and then they are planted in the substrate that was recommended for growing seedlings. But in this case, you need to put a layer of river sand, which is sprayed from a spray bottle.

The cuttings are buried in the soil mixture to a third of their length. It is important to cover them from above glass jar or cut plastic bottle(without bottom). When caring for cuttings, it is important not only to keep the soil moist, but also to air it daily for 1–20 minutes. After two months, the cypress cuttings take root and with the arrival of spring they are transplanted into open ground.

Protection of cypress when grown in the garden from diseases and pests

Since cypress contains resins that serve as protection against harmful insects and diseases, the plant is protected by nature itself from diseases and pests. But if the rules of agricultural technology are violated, problems may arise. With constant flooding of soil, cypress plantings begin to suffer from root rot. Then the needles turn yellow and quickly fall off. In this case, it is necessary to treat with fungicidal preparations, such as Fundazol. Then the rules of watering and maintenance are changed, the crown of the plant is sprayed with “Epin” - a means for stimulating growth.

If it is noticed that the cypress shoots have begun to dry out, this indicates reduced level lighting and humidity. Sudden changes in temperature lead to the same result. To prevent this from happening, it is important from the very beginning to choose the right place to plant a cypress bush and, during spring and autumn, water with water in which it is not diluted. a large number of"Zircon" to increase stress resistance.

Notes for gardeners about the cypress tree

Since the needles and shoots of some varieties have a pleasant aroma, such plants are usually used to obtain aromatic oil. One of these species is the Mexican cypress (Cupressus lusitanica). Cypress oil has long been famous for its properties that can relieve rheumatic pain, serves as an antiseptic, relieves spasms and tones the human body. However, the cost of such a product is very high and therefore, both in medicine and in perfumery, it is customary to use cheaper compounds.

The wood of almost all types of cypress (with the exception of Arizona, which resembles walnut) is soft and light. Therefore, this material has found application in the construction of ships, the manufacture of furniture and various utensils (both household and church). This is due to the fact that wood not only has fungicidal properties, but can successfully repel insects.

Since cypress wood contains a high amount of resin, it may not be damaged for a long time. These properties have been known since ancient times, since the Egyptians used similar material to make sarcophagi and embalm mummies using oil. Even the famous ancient Greek writer and philosopher Plutarch insisted that all laws be written on cypress boards.

In many countries, the dark green needles of the cypress tree serve as a symbol of death and sadness, which is why cypress trees are used for planting in cemeteries.

Cypress oil is usually extracted from its nuts, but leaf blades and young twigs are also used for this purpose. The oily liquid contains substances such as terpene, pinene, camphene, terpineol, and besides them there are acids. In addition, cypress oil is used externally for hair and skin care.

Eastern healers, in particular the healers of Tibet, recommended the use of cypress oil to cleanse the body and stop diarrhea. Preparations based on it will help cope with sweating of the feet and the whole body.

Types and varieties of cypress trees

Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica). Its natural distribution range is in Mexico and the southwestern United States. It is characterized by frost resistance (can withstand temperatures down to -25 below zero) and unpretentiousness. It has a spreading crown. The height does not exceed 21 m. The bark, cracking into thin plates, is colored dark- Brown color. Over time, the plates may peel off. On young shoots, gray-green leaves grow in a tiled pattern, with a pointed tip at the top. Known until 17 decorative forms, which are common in gardening. The most popular are:

• Compacta-It has the shape of a shrub with a rounded crown, needle-shaped foliage with scaly outlines of a silver-blue color.
• Conica-takes a tree-like shape, the height of the crown does not exceed 5 m, and has the outline of a pin.
• Fastigiata -Although it grows in the form of a tree, its shape is squat, and the resulting cones are large and lacy. The foliage is colored bluish.
• Glauca-also grows as a tree, the crown has a columnar outline and silver-gray foliage. Frost resistance is low.
• Most suitable for growing in open ground forms Compacta and Fastigiata, since they tolerate frost of 20 degrees. However, in the first three years from the moment of planting, winter shelter is still required.

Evergreen cypress (Cupressus sempervirens).Its native lands are in the southern regions of Europe and the western lands of Asia, and is found on the southern coast of the Crimea and the Caucasus. It has been cultivated since antiquity and is often planted as a cemetery tree. The height can vary between 25–30 m. The outline of the crown is pyramidal. The branches grow upward, pressed quite tightly to the trunk, but its thickness is only 0.6 m. Scaly foliage of a dark green color grows on young shoots. The resulting cones are grayish-brown. When they are fully ripened, the scales on the cones separate, opening access to the seeds, of which there can be up to 20 pieces. Frost-resistant, drought-resistant, can survive short-term frosts up to 20 degrees.

Large-fruited cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa).This plant comes from the lands of California. Its height can be 20 m, its growth form is tree-like, the trunk is curved. When the plant is young, the trunk remains vertical, but over time its branches begin to take on curved shapes, giving the plant the appearance of a huge bonsai or an extraordinary sculpture. Varietal forms that are popular:

• Goldcrest Wilma -It is a small shrub with a lush crown or a tree with a height of about 2 m. The needles covering the shoots are of a bright light green color.
• Variegata -differs in that the young branches of the needles have whitish streaks.
• Crippsii- a plant in which the leaf plates are spaced from the shoots and have awl-shaped outlines.

McNab Cypress (Cupressus macnabiana).This variety is among the frost-resistant ones that can easily survive temperatures dropping to -25 degrees. It has a tree-like growth form, the height ranges from 5–15 m. The crown is dense, has a wide pyramidal outline, and the branches can hang down to the ground. The needles are very fragrant, there is a distinct lemon note. In landscape design, it is customary to use it for group plantings or as a tapeworm.

Video about growing cypress in the garden:

Acts as a typical representative of the family. Found naturally in the mountains near the Mediterranean Sea in the east.

• This is one of the varieties of cypress trees that can have a spreading or pyramidal crown.
• The maximum height of the tree can reach 30 meters.
• The trunk is up to 1 meter thick. But it takes many years for a tree to grow to such a size; it takes at least half a century.

The bark is slightly reddish, small leaves are collected in branches of a dark green hue. They press tightly against the shoots. The fruits are cones with large scales. Their maximum length is 35 mm. When the fruit ripens, the scales separate and become slightly yellowish in color.

Goldcrest Wilma

This cypress belongs to the Cypress family. It looks like a Christmas tree with narrow leaves, but in miniature size. The shoots are light green, almost yellow tint. Because of this, the plant is called “golden”. The trunk of the plant is very slender.

The scaly small leaves emit a faint lemon scent. The variety was obtained on the islands of Foggy Albion specifically for growing indoors. Later it gained fame as the most popular plant for the office.

Representatives of this species are quite different from other conifers. is different:

1. high resistance to drought;
2. undemanding to soil;
3. high shade tolerance;
4. slow growth;
5. life expectancy.

Adult representatives should be pruned regularly in the spring.

You can also watch and learn more about the Goldcrest cypress in this video:

Siberian juniper

Another name is . Comes from the Juniper genus and the Cypress family. Some scientists classify this species as Common Juniper. It was first described in 1787. Cultivated since 1879.

Grows in natural conditions:

• Inner Mongolia.
• Japan.
• Korea.
• On Far East Russia.
• In Siberia.
• Himalayas.
• In the east.
• In the central part of Asia.
• in eastern Europe.
• North America.

Cypress trees are very useful plants. When grown at home, they disinfect the air and purify it.

“Lives” on rocks, in highlands, rocky slopes, and wasteland meadows.

It is a dioecious or monoecious coniferous plant, a low-growing shrub that reaches up to 1 meter in height. It has high endurance. Grows very slowly - about 0.5 cm per year. It has dense branches.

Elwoody

This is an ornamental plant. It grows in the form of a small tree or shrub. The Cypress genus includes 7 species, all of them are evergreen. The homeland of the plant is:

• China.
• Japan.
• North America.

It reaches a height of up to 3 meters, has an incredible cone-shaped coniferous crown with a slightly bluish or green tint. Every year the plant grows 4-6 cm.

IN Middle lane Russian Elwoodi cypress can be grown not only indoors, but also outdoors. It is easy to care for.

You can learn more about Elwoodi in this video:

Arizonan

It is the only species whose homeland is the southwestern part of America. This tree is medium in size (height up to 15-20 meters). The crown has a conical shape, the bark is smooth, reddish-brown in color. Over time, it becomes fibrous with flat ridges.

The foliage is scaly, bluish-green or grayish, sometimes silvery. Arranged in opposite pairs, tightly grasping the 4-sided branches. When rubbed it has an unpleasant aroma.

The cones reach 2.5 cm, the shape is almost spherical. The color is dark red-brown. Each cone has 6-8 shield-like woody scales. The cones ripen in the fall for a second season, but remain on the tree for many years.

In ancient times, cypress was a symbol of sadness and sorrow. But with the advent of Christianity, the symbolism of the plant changed: cypress became a symbol eternal life.

Lawson

It is a variety of evergreen coniferous tall shrubs or low trees from the genus Cypressaceae of the Cypressaceae family. Originates from North America and Asia. There it grows on moist soils in the valleys of the coastal mountains. “Lives” at an altitude of up to 1.5 km above sea level. The plant was exported from America in 1854, and since then it has been grown in Europe. Capable of living up to 6 hundred years.

It is a tall tree, reaching 50-60 m. The crown is narrow, cone-shaped, expanding downwards. The apex is narrowed, often inclined to the side. In the presence of good conditions branches bend towards the surface of the earth. And with poor care or tight, improper planting, the crown becomes exposed at the bottom and dries out.

It is considered the largest tree of this genus.

The diameter of the trunk can reach up to 1.8 meters. Its bark is brownish-reddish, thick, and is distinguished by cracking into rounded plates. The root is shallow, the system is located in the upper soil horizon.

Conclusion

Cypress trees are grown in parks and gardens as ornamental plants and hedges. Evergreen cypress is often used for this purpose. The small size of some species allows them to be grown indoors.

Shoots and needles of some varieties are used to obtain aromatic oils, which are used in aromatic therapy for their antiseptic, antirheumatic, antispasmodic, tonic and other beneficial qualities.

Cypress (lat. Cupressus) is a genus of evergreen coniferous trees and shrubs of the Cypress family (Cupressaceae). The cypress genus includes 15-20 species - trees and shrubs. It is distinguished by soft fragrant wood. Representatives of this family differ sharply from most conifers. In general, they are characterized by high drought resistance, low demands on soil, high shade tolerance, combined with slow growth and long life expectancy.

Cypress trees are distinguished by their tall growth (reach 40 m in height), pyramidal or cylindrical-rounded crown, and pleasant smell. They have cross-paired leaves, small, scale-like, adjacent to the shoot or slightly bent, convex on the back, with a resin gland. Their cones are round, woody, with shield-shaped, multifaceted scales on the legs, which fit tightly to each other. Cypress seeds are flat, with more or less developed wings. This plant is propagated by sowing, cuttings and grafting.

The genus includes about 20 species, which are native to the subtropics of North America and the temperate latitudes of the Eurasian continent, Northern Asia and North Africa. Thirteen species are bred in Crimea, on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus and in some areas Central Asia. The most commonly cultivated plant is the evergreen cypress (C. sempervirens), reaching a height of 30 m and a width of 60 cm. The most common species in the United States is the large-fruited cypress (C. macrocarpa). This plant grows naturally only on the California coast. It reaches a height of 8-12 m, and is also distinguished by a compact, narrow-conical crown and light or dark green leaves. The diameter of its cones reaches 3.8 cm. Decorative forms of large-fruited cypress grow quickly and tolerate heavy pruning and various climatic conditions. Thanks to these qualities they are ideal plants for decorating garden plots in Southern Europe and temperate regions of South America and Australia. Most often they are used to create hedges.

Also known among gardeners are such species as Himalayan cypress (C. torulosa), Arizona cypress (C. arisonica), Lusitanian cypress (C. lusitanica) and Kashmir cypress (C. cashmeriana) - a small cone-shaped tree with blue-green leaves. In the coastal regions of China, large areas are occupied by Duclos cypress - a tree up to 26 m high. Its needles are scale-like, blunt, up to 1 mm long, with a bluish gland. Due to its decorative properties, this type of cypress is cultivated on the Black Sea coasts of the Caucasus and Crimea.
It is also worth mentioning the weeping cypress (C. fiinebris), which also comes from China, but is sometimes found in Japan, where it is planted around temples. It reaches a height of 18 m, is distinguished by drooping branches and light green leaves. The diameter of the cones is 1.3 cm.

It is worth noting that in Old Testament In the Bible, cypress, along with cedar and fir, is mentioned as the tree of paradise. Moreover, it was used to decorate the Jerusalem Temple.
Since ancient times, some peoples considered cypress a tree of sadness, sorrow, death, while others, on the contrary, considered it a symbol of youth, grace and nobility. “Slim as a cypress,” they often say about someone who takes care of his figure and has a chiseled silhouette.
In antiquity, cypress trees were planted around temples, grottoes, caves and cities; wounds and ulcers were treated with the resin of these trees. The analgesic and antiseptic properties of cypress are used in the treatment of varicose veins, numbness and swelling of the limbs, arthritis and hemorrhoids. In addition, cypress is used as a means of combating fungal diseases. However, deodorizing cypress essential oil is used not only in medicine. In cosmetology, it is one of the main components included in products for the care of sensitive and porous facial skin. Valuable cypress oil soothes and makes the skin of the feet healthier, eliminating unpleasant odors and excessive sweating, and relieves fatigue.
Housewives know well that the smell of cypress is unbearable for moths and wood-boring beetles, therefore, if its branches are distributed throughout the house, then there is no need to be afraid of these insect pests.
The handsome cypress comes to the aid not only of humans, but also of many birds: woodpeckers, tits, grosbeaks, robins, wrens, finches and other birds feed on its seeds.

CULTIVATION FEATURES, SOIL, PLANTING RULES
Cypress needs bright sunlight and grows and develops well in open areas.
Cypress branches, as a rule, are dense, so you need to start removing excess shoots, in accordance with the chosen shape, early. Pruning branches is possible throughout the year, but it is better to do it in February-March.
Young shoots on the branches are constantly pinched so that only a small part of the corresponding shoot remains. Thus, from time to time the branches become thicker. If the terminal shoot stretches strongly upward, it must be removed so that the side shoot following it can be converted into an apical one.
The soil is mixed, consisting of turf, sand and humus.
Planting holes for cypress must be prepared in advance. If the soil is on your garden plot heavy, drainage from gravel or broken brick with a layer of 20 cm is required, since cypress loves loose soil. Before planting, you need to prepare special soil - turf soil with the addition of sand and humus. Plants are planted to a depth of at least 80 cm. The distance between them is usually 0.5-1.5 m. When replanting, make sure that the root collar of the cypress is not buried in the ground, otherwise the plant may die.
During the first two years after planting, the plant is fertilized mineral fertilizer in an amount of 30-40 g/cm.
If the weather is hot and dry for a long time, then the trees need to be watered regularly and sprinkling twice a month.
Too compacted soil around cypress trees should be periodically loosened to a depth of 10-15 cm.

REPRODUCTION
Reproduction: by seeds (spring), woody cuttings (March - April) and grafting.
The seeds are moderately moistened and kept in a bright place. Rooted cuttings and seedlings are planted in a mixture of turf and leaf soil and sand (4:2:1), adding a handful of crushed bricks.

DISEASES AND PESTS
In general, cypress is not susceptible to disease. The most common diseases that affect these plants are:
- Yellowing of leaves - due to lack of watering, dry air, lack of nutrients in the soil, excess calcium in the soil, i.e. watering
too hard water.
- Brown leaf tips - this can be caused by exposure to cold or dry air or insufficient watering.
- Scale insects and false scale insects: brown plaques on the surface of leaves and stems, suck out cell sap. The leaves dry out and fall off.
Control measures: you cannot mechanically remove pests from cypress. The plant can be sprayed or bathed in a 0.15% Actellik solution (1-2 ml per 1 liter of water). Moreover, the procedure will have to be repeated several times. Treatments with actara and karbofos are effective.
Spider mites: appear when the air is too dry - a web appears between the branches, the leaves quickly dry out and fall off.
Control measures: Spray with 0.15% Actellik solution (1-2 ml per liter of water). Humidify the air around the plant.

LANDSCAPE DESIGN
Most often, cypress is used as an ornamental tree for alley, group or single plantings.

Coniferous trees are distributed throughout the world. They are widely used in landscape design, as these plants have high decorative properties. Moreover, they have a positive effect on human health. Read about the types of coniferous trees in the article.

Advantages

Why do gardeners and designers around the world prefer coniferous plants? This happens for several reasons:

• These representatives of the flora are evergreen. Only a small part of their varieties shed their needles in the winter season. These include larch. In other plants, the needles are renewed gradually. The needles fall off every few years and are immediately replaced by new needles, so the process remains unnoticeable.
• Coniferous trees are undemanding to lighting and humidity.
• Almost all varieties have the correct shape, which means that they do not need to be cut.
• The aroma of these plants is medicinal. It has a positive effect on the general condition of a person.
• Coniferous plants can be planted almost anywhere, since their diversity allows you to choose a shrub or tree that is suitable in shape and size.
• They go well with many ornamental grasses and flowers. You can create a composition with peonies, roses, hydrangea and other representatives of the flora.

An interesting fact is that it is coniferous trees and shrubs that occupy the first lines in the list of long-lived plants. Currently, the oldest representative of the flora is considered to be the spruce found in Sweden. Old Tikko (this is the name given to this plant) lived for at least 9.5 thousand years. Another long-liver - the Methuselah pine from the USA - will soon turn 5 thousand years old. From 20 ancient trees, known to people, only one is deciduous. It grows in Sri Lanka. His age is 2217 years.

Spruce

Perhaps the most popular conifer tree- this is spruce. This plant looks great both in single and composition plantings. You can build a hedge from spruce trees planted in a row. Through the efforts of breeders, not only large, tall varieties with a cone-shaped crown have been developed, but also more accurate and small plants. The following varieties are very popular:

• Serbian spruce, reaching a height of 40 meters. It has an unusual color. Top part the needles are dark green, and the lower ones are covered with white stripes. Brown-purple cones combined with bluish-green needles give the plant elegance and charm.
• Siberian spruce has a dense crown. The top of the tree is slightly pointed. The gray fissured bark is almost invisible against the background of bright green, silver or golden needles and brown cones.
• The common spruce, or European spruce, has been living for 300 years. During this time, the trunk reaches a diameter of 1 meter. This variety is deservedly considered the fastest growing. Every year she gains at least half a meter in height.

Fir

This representative of the pine family is distinguished by its appearance. Purple cones grow upward. The needles are flat. Soft shiny needles are painted in several colors at once. Their upper part is dark green, and along the bottom there is a smooth white stripe. An interesting fact is that not all botanists classify fir as a coniferous tree. Some people are convinced that it is a deciduous plant.

One of the most popular varieties is Caucasian fir. It has a neat cone shape. Actually, because of its appearance it became widespread. IN European countries this crop often replaces the Christmas tree. Indeed, it is very convenient to dress up raised branches. The dark green needles have a shine. The needles are very small and fluffy. They give off a citrus aroma.

Juniper

This representative of the flora is a leader in bactericidal properties. The plant appeared on the planet at least 50 million years ago. Currently, there are at least 70 varieties of culture. You can choose a variety to suit every taste. There are giant junipers, whose height is more than 30 meters, and there are also elfin trees that rise above the ground by only 15 cm. Its characteristics and care requirements directly depend on the variety. However, there is one thing in common that makes juniper one of the most common plants: it looks great in any composition. It can be grown in rock gardens or rockeries, and can be used to build a unique hedge.

If you want to plant juniper in the garden or country house, do not place it next to fruit crops. This coniferous tree can infect other plants with a disease such as rust. Therefore, you need to regularly inspect the juniper and the crops growing next to it and take timely measures to trim the affected branches. You should stock up on fungicides to treat damaged areas.

Cedars

Cedars are the most popular coniferous trees in the world. They are grown in almost every corner of the planet. They gained particular popularity in the UK. It is difficult to imagine an English garden landscape without cedar. The plant frames the site and is used as decoration for the front entrance. Cedar not only gives the surrounding space an atmosphere home comfort, but also makes it more solemn.

In nature, these plants are most often found in mountain ranges. In the composition of such hills they seem like real giants. Still would! Cedar can reach a height of 50 meters. Despite the fact that humanity has known about this tree for at least a quarter of a century, botanists have still not come to a common conclusion about the number of varieties of cedar. It is believed that in adulthood all individuals are absolutely identical, that is, only Lebanese cedar exists. From another point of view, short-coniferous, Atlas and Himalayan breeds stand out.

By the way, pine nuts, beloved by many, have nothing in common with this plant, except for the name. The fruits of real cedar are inedible. People eat seeds cedar pine, which is popularly nicknamed

Cypress

IN wildlife this coniferous tree reaches a height of 70 meters and appearance reminds me of cypress. Currently, breeders are working on developing new varieties of this crop. Low growing varieties widely used in landscape design as a hedge. Medium-sized trees look equally good in single plantings and in compositions. Dwarf varieties found their application in rock gardens and mixborders. The plant can fit into any design ensemble, because it has very soft fluffy needles. The most popular are dwarf varieties, whose maximum height is 360 cm. They are versatile and highly decorative.

Cypress

The names of coniferous trees may be similar. A striking example is cypress and cypress. These are completely different representatives of the flora; they should not be confused. Cypress is a slender evergreen tree or shrub. The shape of the crown resembles a pyramid or cone. The slender trunk is covered with thick fluffy bark. The foliage is pressed to the branches. In the second year after planting, the cones ripen.

Of the 25 known species, 10 are used in landscape design and gardening. Growing conditions, care requirements and characteristics directly depend on the variety.

Larch

Sometimes the names of coniferous trees are deceiving. For example, larch, contrary to its name, is a representative of conifers. It belongs to the pine family. It grows in many parts of the world. The culture is rightfully considered long-lived. Some representatives live for almost a millennium, or, to be more precise, 800 years. The coniferous tree larch is one of the most common of its kind. Outwardly, it resembles a Christmas tree, but every year it sheds its needles.

If conditions environment favorable, the plant trunk reaches a diameter of 1 meter. The maximum height of this coniferous tree (larch) is 50 meters. The thick bark is abundantly covered with deep brown furrows. The branches form an openwork cone-shaped crown. They grow chaotically upward. There are a total of 14 plant species.

Larch is not only a highly ornamental crop, but is also used in industry. Firstly, the tree has hard and durable wood that is resistant to mechanical damage. Secondly, the plant is widely used in folk medicine. Young shoots and buds are prepared by many healers. Turpentine is obtained from the resin, which is used in the treatment of many diseases. The bark is rich in many vitamins.

Microbiota

This coniferous shrub belongs to the cypress family. The only species grows in the Far Eastern region of Russia. The microbiota is listed in the Red Book as it is endangered due to forest fires and the inability of seeds to move away from the parent bush. The shoots are creeping, reminiscent of one of the forms of thuja. The scaly needles are green in summer and turn brown in winter. Small cones consist of 2-3 scales. The shrub grows extremely slowly. He gains only 2 cm in height per year. But he can safely be called a long-liver, because he grows for 100 years.

Pine

A coniferous tree known to mankind since ancient times. There are no less than 115 needles of these plants that emit a pleasant aroma. They are collected in small bunches (only 2-5 pieces each). Pine species are determined precisely by these bunches. The plant is so popular that many people plant it in their gardens. Miniature pines, which are characterized by slow growth, are used in landscape design. In large plantings, for example, in parks, they grow tall species. Low varieties are planted on lawns, in mixborders and rock gardens. The most common varieties:

• Scots pine, which is deservedly called the symbol of the Russian forest. A tree of the first magnitude rises 40 meters above the ground. The bluish-green dense needles can have any shape. It falls out once every 3 years.
• Mountain pine is not considered tall. Her height is only 10-20 meters. Dwarf varieties do not even reach a meter in height. The plant is highly decorative and has long dark needles.

Thuja

These compact coniferous forest trees are becoming increasingly popular. They are planted in parks and botanical gardens. The culture is resistant to rotting, as well as unfavorable environmental conditions, such as drought and frost. The branches grow upward and form a pyramid or column shape. Small cones ripen in the first year after planting. The leaves are scaly and dark.

Breeders are breeding more and more in this way; dwarf, creeping and weeping varieties are already being cultivated. The western thuja is especially popular. Its powerful trunk grows very quickly, its height is 7 meters, and its diameter reaches 200 cm. The needles are evergreen. The needles of some varieties acquire a copper tint.

Thuja began to be cultivated in Europe. The French king called this plant the “tree of life.” By his order, the area around the palace at Fontainebleau was planted with thuja. After 200 years, the crop began to be grown in the eastern part of Europe.

The most popular varieties are varieties such as Columna and Smaragd. The first variety has a dense crown that resembles a column and reaches a height of 7 meters. The leaves of coniferous trees of this variety, that is, needles, all year round painted dark green with a shining tint. Another variety has not such impressive parameters. Its height is 4 meters and its width is 1.5.

Kupresocioparis

These coniferous trees are very, very rare in Russia. Ornamental plant, which remains green all year round, is shaped like columns. Its height reaches 20 meters. Every year the shoots increase by 1 meter. Scale-like leaves cover the branches. The plant has small fruits. The birthplace of culture is Great Britain. Here, hedges are made from wood. In Russia and other CIS countries, it is cultivated only by advanced gardeners.

Cryptomeria

Many coniferous trees (photos and names of some of them are presented in this article) are found everywhere. For example, Cryptomeria is the national tree of Japan. It is found in wild forests, on mountain slopes, and in park alleys. At the age of 150 years, the plant reaches a height of 60 m. favorable conditions environment, the trunk diameter is 2 m. However, breeders have developed a number of varieties that can be grown not only in household plots, but also in apartments. Their height does not exceed 200 cm.

A narrow dense crown may have dark or light shade. Some varieties change the color of their needles to reddish or yellowish in winter. The short awl-shaped needles do not prick at all. The round cones are small in size and brown in color. They ripen all year round. Since the birthplace of cryptomeria is an eastern country, the plant has several names. One of them is Japanese cedar. This naming is not recognized by scientists, since cryptomeria and cedar are completely different plants. In China, the crops are called "shan", and in Japan - "sugi".

Yew

Yew shrubs or trees have a smooth mount of purple-smoky color. The needles are very soft and long. 8 plant varieties are found in Europe, Africa, East Asia and North America. Berry, or European yew, is common in the CIS countries. This crop reaches a height of 20 meters. The bark is reddish-brown, the base of the leaves is narrowed. The upper part of the needles is painted in a glossy dark green color, and the lower part is painted in a light matte color. Yew is undemanding to care and environmental conditions. At the same time, the plant can cause problems, because the needles pose a danger to animals.

Yew is a raw material that has been used by pharmaceutical companies for 20 years. The fact is that this plant has medicinal properties. It is used to combat malignant tumors mammary glands, intestines, ovaries and stomach. There are yew processing centers in European countries. This is where people bring cut branches after trimming their hedges.

Cypress (Cupressus) - this genus includes evergreen trees and shrubs of the Cypress family. Plants with a conical or pyramidal crown in the wild are distributed in subtropical and tropical climates throughout the northern hemisphere - in the Mediterranean, in the Crimea and on the Caucasus coast, some species are found in the Sahara, the Himalayas, China, and their range also extends across North America.

Description

Depending on the species or shape, they can be trees or shrubs. The trunk is straight or curved. The bark is thin, smooth and gray in the young plant for quite a long time, and later becomes gray-brown and longitudinally furrowed.

Branches grow in all planes, round or quadrangular in shape. The leaves are scale-like, imbricately pressed to the branches, with a free blunt apex, intersecting at right angles, small, ovate, on the back there is an oil gland in the form of a longitudinal groove.

Cypress trees in Crimea

Cypress trees are monoecious. They are pollinated by the wind. The cones ripen in the second year of the plant's life. Male cones are spherical or rounded-elliptical, on a short stalk, glossy, from brown to gray, hanging, up to 3 cm in size. Female cones consist of 10-14 scales covering the stem, with several ovules each. After ripening, the scales take the form of convex multifaceted scutes with rows of seeds on the underside. There are 8-20 seeds in each fertilized scutellum, brown, flattened, narrowly winged. Cotyledons are usually 2.

The structure of evergreen cypress

Popular types and varieties

The number of cypress species varies from 14 to 28, depending on the categorization of scientists. The fact is that some controversial categories have such small populations and are isolated that there are differences in their classification - as a separate species or subspecies.

K. evergreen(C. sempervirens) - this species is also called Italian cypress, an evergreen conifer native to Southern Europe and Western Asia. In his natural environment habitat, as a rule, grows in a spreading, open horizontal form (f. horizontalis). In culture, since the times of the classical Italian gardens of the Renaissance, the familiar narrow conical shape (f. stricta) silhouette of a tree has been known.

In the first three years of life, the evergreen cypress develops at a rapid pace and grows by 1–2 meters, then the growth drops significantly, and the maximum height of 20-25 m (rarely 30) is reached only at 100 years. The total lifespan of the plant is up to 2000 years.

Cypress evergreen

The ascending branches are tightly pressed to the trunk, forming the correct conical shape of the tree. Dark green, scaly, elongated diamond-shaped leaves tightly cover the side shoots growing in all directions, creating an overall monolithic silhouette. The cones are drooping, grayish-brown, round. Plants of this species are very hardy, able to withstand drought, moderate frosts and do not require special care.

C. lusitanicus, or Mexican (C. lusіtanica) - distributed throughout Mexico, where its wood is valuable building material, Guatemala, as well as Southeast Asia. The Portuguese colonists who first described this species mistakenly identified it as "Goa Cedar". Trees grow in populations or individual specimens in mixed mountainous coniferous forests. This species is found on a variety of generally nutrient-poor rocky limestone soils on rocky canyon slopes.

Evergreen, monoecious, medium and fairly large trees up to 35 m high. The trunk is straight, cylindrical. The bark of young trees is smooth, red-brown in color, but with age it becomes vertically grooved, gray and flaky.

In the first years of life, the crown of Lusitanian cypresses is pyramidal; with age, the top becomes flat, the branches are spreading or ascending, the ends are often drooping. The leaves are green or bluish-green in color, intersecting at right angles, scaly, diamond-shaped, on the side branches - 1-2.5 mm long, on the main ones - up to 10 mm, the edges are serrated.

C. lusitanica (C. lusitanica) f. Benthamii

This species has a large number of decorative forms, of which Bentham (f. Benthamii) with thicker leaves and a regular crown shape and Blue (f. glauca) with intense bluish needles and the same shade of bloom on the cones are especially popular.

K. arizonalis(C. arizonica) is the only species native to the American southwest. It is a medium-sized tree (15 - 20 m high), with a conical crown and smooth reddish-brown bark that eventually becomes fibrous with flat ridges. The leaves are scaly, grayish or bluish green, sometimes silvery, arranged in opposite pairs and tightly grasping tetrahedral branches, have unpleasant smell when rubbed. Cones from up to 2.5 cm, almost spherical, dark red-brown in color, with 6 - 8 shield-shaped woody scales. The cones ripen in the fall of the second season, but remain on the tree for many years.

A highly decorative and frost-resistant species, especially popular forms are “Compacta” - a cushion-shaped shrub with bluish leaves and “Fastigiata” - a low straight tree with beautiful large cones.

K. McNab(C. macnabiana) is an undeservedly unpopular species, but promising due to its frost resistance. Its representatives are low ornamental trees with a height of 5 to 15 m and have a dense, wide-conical crown, and the branches fall all the way to the ground.

K. nutkanski(C. nootkatensіs) is a slow-growing tree species found along the Pacific coast from Alaska (often called Alaska Cedar in English-language publications) to British Columbia in a cool, humid climate. Medium to big size pyramidal trees with drooping branches with dark gray-green foliage that curve ornately at points of division. One of the most beautiful weeping species.

Cypress Dupre

K. himalayan(C. torulosa) - found in the Himalayas, some provinces of China and Vietnam, where it grows at an altitude of 1500-2500 m on calcareous substrates. This is an evergreen tree with a large oval, wide-conical crown, grows 15 - 25 m, specimens up to 45 meters in height have been recorded. Trees of this species do not tolerate shade and form colonies on clean mountain slopes. They grow rather slowly, natural regeneration is very limited. Grown on plantations in China as a source of essential oil and quality wood.

K. large-fruited(C. macrocarpa) - in California, its natural habitat, this is a curved tree up to 20 m tall. The young plant has a pyramidal outline, but with age and winds it takes on sculptural, bizarre shapes. Some varieties of this species are used in bonsai culture, and dwarf forms have also been bred for cultivation as indoor plant. It is distinguished by its unusual light, even yellowish coloring of the needles.

K. weeping(C. funebris) is a species widely cultivated in Vietnam, Japan and China. Trees up to 15 m high have descending, even drooping branches, which is where its name comes from. In Asian culture, it is often planted in cemeteries as a sign of mourning. Plants of this species are light-loving, not demanding on soil and tolerate drought well.

K. saharski, or Dupre (C. dupreziana) - representatives of this species are considered one of the oldest surviving trees in the world, are endangered and are protected in nature reserves. The relict species has been preserved in the Sahara since the time when this area had a more temperate, Mediterranean climate.

Photo gallery of species

Growing and care

Cypress trees are very unpretentious, they feel great even in infertile soil, they are frost-resistant and tolerant of drought; moreover, the poorer the soil, the less pruning is required to maintain their shape. This applies to mature plants.

Young trees are quite sensitive to various factors, so they need to be provided with a bright place, but protected from direct sunlight, at least for some part of the day. Dust and noise insulation is also important for seedlings. The soil is preferable with a large amount of turf, coniferous land, sand to ensure better drainage.

Fertilizing with mullein every 2-3 weeks is necessary for cypress in the first years, then this need disappears and is reduced to applying fertilizers twice a year - in spring and autumn. Watering is moderate, but during hot periods the seedlings benefit from sprinkling, otherwise their needles risk turning yellow. For the winter, young trees are completely covered.

Cypress cypress bonsai

Reproduction

To grow cypress in a garden or on a plot, the most reliable way is to purchase seedlings from a nursery. It should be borne in mind that the root system of the plant is very sensitive, so young cypress must be planted together with a lump of earth and as carefully as possible.

By cuttings

Propagation of cypress by cuttings is the most economical way. Cuttings are cut in the fall from the top of the young healthy plants, because the shoots of the lower branches often grow into trees of atypical shape, growing horizontally. In addition, the upper branches, often trimmed with regular pruning to give shape, have good potential for future development. The main (axial) or lateral shoot with an intact apical growth point is separated with a knife obliquely or broken off downwards to form a “heel”.

The lower third of the cutting is freed from leaves; roots will subsequently grow from the resulting wounds. The base is treated with root, a growth regulator, and planted in the substrate. If the cuttings are supposed to be grown in a warm room, then they will be ready for planting in open ground in a few months - in the spring. In cool greenhouses or closed terraces, young plants will have to spend a year until they are completely rooted, and they can be transplanted to a permanent place in the fall.

Cypress seedlings

Seeds

Growing cypress from seeds is a fairly simple but lengthy process that can only captivate a true gardener. It only makes sense for indoor species this plant.

Diseases and pests

To prevent heart rot coming from the roots and other diseases, in the spring the plants are treated with insecticides and fungicides.

Cypress is susceptible to attacks by the bark beetle, which eats young shoots. Spraying plants with karbofos will help solve this problem.

When carrying out formative pruning of cypress trees, it is recommended to disinfect the pruning shears in a 5% bleach solution when moving to to the next plant. This will help avoid the risk of cross-infection.

Evergreen cypress colonnades

Use in landscape design

Cypress trees are extremely effective in landscape design.

Being extremely ornamental, even architectural, the evergreen pyramidal cypress is a favorite of gardeners and designers. The tall, slender silhouette makes it the most suitable accent for a large, formal landscape that can accommodate its height. It also looks great when framed with a large building and will frame the alley beautifully. If the trees are planted 1 to 1.5 m apart, their dense, dark green foliage on vertical branches that rarely need pruning will form a dense screen or hedge.

In group planting, evergreen horizontal cypress trees are used to decorate walls and fences.

McNab cypresses are suitable for decorating rocky corners of the garden; they look good in single and mixed plantings.

Arizona or Mexican species are suitable for hedges; they not only tolerate pruning well, but even require it.