The Cypress Leyland: A Versatile, Fast-Growing Tree

While the Cypress Leyland is a truly American tree, its roots go back to 19th century Great Britain. This evergreen is a hybrid of the Monterey Cypress and the Nootka Cypress. Each of these trees were brought from America across the sea and introduced into Britain where eventually they were crossbred. 

Each of these two trees provided the Cypress Leyland with special characteristics that make it a popular tree option. The Monterey Cypress is known for its rapid rate of growth; however, it isn't a particularly hardy species. On the other hand, the Nootka grows slowly, but is quite hardy. 

The Cypress Leyland inherited the best characteristics of each tree; it is a fast-growing tree that is hardy and drought-resistant. In fact, the Cypress Leyland tends to grow about three to four feet per year and can grow well in USDA zones 6 through 10. This slender tree tends to reach a maximum height of between 60 and 70 feet with a spread of just 15 to 25 feet. 

The Cypress Leyland is a popular variety of Christmas tree, but this evergreen also can be excellent choice for your home landscaping. It often is utilized to decorate the boundary of a yard in order to provide privacy, lessen noise from a busy road or simply to provide an attractive border to your property or even used as a windbreak. 

Not only does the Cypress Leyland grow quickly, it's also a fairly low maintenance tree, but it is important to consider your planting location. It does need to be planted in full sun but can handle many different types of soil, provided the soil is well-drained. During the first six weeks after planting, it is best to water two or three times per week. After that, you simply water as needed. 

When you plant the Cypress Leyland, you need to dig so that the hole is double the width of the root system. The hole should be deep enough so that the root system will be level with the ground. Once you place the tree, simply backfill the hole with your native soil and pack down the soil to ensure that there are no air pockets and then water the soil thoroughly. When purchasing multiple trees, it is wise to space them about five or six feet apart. 

At PlantMeGreen, we sell the Cypress Leyland, as well as several other Cypress varieties. For instance, the Italian Cypress is a stately evergreen that is quite aromatic. It grows well in Zones 7 to 10, and while it can grow as high as 40 feet, it's often sculpted and used an ornamental decor. The Carolina Sapphire is another type of cypress that grows quite quickly and works well in USDA Zones 6 to 9, and emits a pleasing lemony scent. 

The Bald Cypress is another tree we sell, and this features a pyramidal shape and while it doesn't grow as quickly as the Cypress Leyland, it does work well in USDA Zones 4 through 10. The Bald Cypress is actually deciduous, which is how they earned their name. 

Selecting the right tree for your yard can seem challenging, but the team at PlantMeGreen is happy to help. If you aren't sure which Cypress works best for your needs, give us a call or send us a message on our website. Simply click on the Contact Us tab and you will find our phone numbers, office hours and an area where you can send us a message.