Plants
Cypress
Cupressus · Cupressaceae
Hardly any tree carries as much landscape within it as the cypress: its dark green columns define Tuscany, Crete and Provence. Here in the Rhineland the true Mediterranean cypress grows most reliably in a container; for hedges and gardens its tougher relatives, the false and Leyland cypresses, take over. Knowing the difference spares you the most common disappointment: a frozen column after the first proper winter.
- Light
- Full sun to sunny; the more light and warmth, the denser the column.
- Watering
- Moderate but regular; never let a container root ball dry out completely.
- Care level
- Medium
- Botanical
- Cupressus
Terminology first: the true cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) is the slender Tuscan column — Mediterranean, only conditionally hardy to around minus 10 to 15 degrees. What grows here as a „cypress hedge“ is usually false cypress (Chamaecyparis) or the fast-growing Leyland cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii) — both considerably more frost-hardy.
For Mediterranean flair in the Rhineland the container is the safest route: the columnar cypress stands in full sun there, in free-draining, mineral-rich substrate, and overwinters bright and cool at 0 to 10 degrees — in an unheated conservatory, say, or sheltered against the house wall with fleece. In mild city spots, varieties like ‚Totem‘ can even be planted out in a protected position.
The most important care rule for all cypress relatives: never cut deep into old, brown wood. Unlike yew, they do not resprout from it — the gap stays for good. So clip hedges regularly and lightly from the start, once or twice a year between spring and late summer.
Water is the second sticking point, especially in containers: cypresses look tough but are sensitive to both a dried-out root ball and waterlogging. Brown shoot tips are almost always a water problem — too dry in summer, too wet in winter — or frost desiccation, when the evergreen keeps transpiring while the root ball is frozen.
In design the columnar form is a tool: two container cypresses frame an entrance, a row structures a terrace, and in a Mediterranean bed a hardy columnar alternative (such as the columnar yew) recreates the original look permanently. Cypress sprigs smell aromatic and hold well in winter arrangements — a lovely by-product of shaping.
Is Cypress toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Mildly irritating
- Cats
- Mildly irritating
- Dogs
- Mildly irritating
Cypresses contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal irritation if eaten; skin contact with the sap occasionally irritates as well. Serious poisonings are rare, but nibbling pets and children should still be kept away.
Typical symptoms: Ingestion may cause drooling, vomiting and diarrhoea; sensitive skin may redden after contact with the sap.
In an emergency:call the German poison control centre in Bonn on +49 228 19240 (24/7) — for pets, contact an emergency vet directly. This information does not replace medical or veterinary advice.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Choose a warm, full-sun position; in containers use free-draining, mineral-rich substrate.
- 02Water evenly — avoid both a dry root ball and waterlogging.
- 03Overwinter true cypresses in containers bright and cool (0–10 °C) or protect with fleece.
- 04Cut into green wood only — cypress does not resprout from brown, old wood.
- 05Clip hedges lightly once or twice a year, never radically.
- 06Water occasionally in winter when the ground is frost-free to prevent frost desiccation.
Frequently asked
- Is the cypress hardy?
- The true Mediterranean cypress only partially: it briefly tolerates around minus 10 to 15 degrees but suffers in wet, cold winters and icy wind. In the Rhineland it does best in a container with cool, bright overwintering. False cypresses and Leyland cypresses, on the other hand, are fully hardy.
- Why is my cypress turning brown from the inside?
- A little brown inner foliage is normal age-related shedding that can be brushed out. Large-scale browning points to water stress (too dry or too wet), frost desiccation or fungal disease. Important: never cut back into the brown wood — cypress will not resprout there.
- Is cypress toxic to dogs or cats?
- Mildly: the essential oils and resins can cause gastrointestinal upset if eaten, but cypresses are generally not life-threatening. Beware of confusion with the highly poisonous yew — when in doubt, have the plant identified and ask your vet.
- How do I prune a cypress correctly?
- Regularly and lightly: once or twice a year between spring and late summer, trim only the green shoot tips. That keeps the column or hedge dense. Hard cuts into old wood are off-limits — the resulting holes in cypress relatives never fill in again.