Description:

A pyramidal and upright accent tree, foliage is scale sprays that are light green; an endangered species native to the Santa Cruz area of California; use as a solitary accent in the yard or a large garden, very hard to miss all season long

Ornamental Features

Santa Cruz Cypress is primarily valued in the landscape for its distinctively pyramidal habit of growth. It has attractive light green evergreen foliage. The scale-like sprays of foliage are highly ornamental and remain light green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Santa Cruz Cypress is a dense evergreen tree with a strong central leader and a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which can make it a great accent feature on this basis alone.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Santa Cruz Cypress is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Vertical Accent

Planting & Growing

Santa Cruz Cypress will grow to be about 35 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 30 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live to a ripe old age of 100 years or more; think of this as a heritage tree for future generations!

This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is native to parts of North America.