Arizona Landscaping Plants And Flowers
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Trees

Italian Cypress Tree, Cupressus sempervirens

Italian Cypress Trees, Cupressus sempervirens. Arrowhead Ranch. January 21, 2006.

Mediterranean Cypress Tree Cones Cupressus sempervirens	Italian Cypress Tree Cupressus sempervirens

Italian Cypress Tree Cupressus sempervirens, Cypress Family ( Cupressaceae ), Italian Cypress Tree. Also called: Mediterranean Cypress. A remarkably tall, slender, evergreen, almost pencil-shaped tree. Height can reach 110 feet; spread is seldom more than 8 foot. The foliage is needle-like and dark green at all times of year. Cones develop in climates that have a cold winter. Cupressus sempervirens has a conic crown with level branches and variably pendulous branchlets. It is very long-lived, with some trees having been reported to be over 1,000 years old. The foliage grows in dense juniper like sprays, dark green in color. The leaves are scale-like, 3/4 " to 2 " long, and produced on rounded (not flattened) shoots. The seed cones are ovoid to oblong in form, 1 1/4 " to 1 3/4 " long, with 10-14 scales, green at first, maturing brown in color, about 20-24 months after pollination. The male cones are 3-5 mm long, and release pollen in February-March. It has a single gray trunk. It grows well in any well drained soil in full sun. It is used as a background plant, tall border, a screen or a specimen tree for formal gardens. It can also be used as a windbreak. Height: Usually to 80 feet, with 1/10th spread. Can reach 110 feet in some areas. Flowers: Inconspicuous. Blooming Time: Southern Arizona, March - April. Phoenix Area, April - May. Fruit & Seeds: 1.5 inch across; round, brown cones. Leaves: The leaves are oval 1- to 3-inch gray-green leaves attached to gray branches. Found: Native of Southern Europe and Western Asia. Elevation: 0 - 2000 Feet. Habitat: Lower elevations where water is available. Likes fertile soil with good drainage. Very little unkeep is needed. Miscellaneous: Maintenance: Low. Photos Taken; January 24, 2006. In Glendale.