Conifers
Leyland cypress
Cupressocyparis leylandii
Leyland cypress provides fast-growing evergreen screening on a substantial scale. Unpruned trees can reach 60 to 70 feet tall and 8 to 15 feet wide or more; a smaller hedge depends on ongoing maintenance. Reserve it for a large boundary or windbreak with full sun, drainage, airflow, and access for pruning. Southwest Washington plantings need establishment water and protection from the stress of crowded, damp screens. Begin light trimming while growth is manageable, avoiding cuts into bare old wood. Cankers and foliage disease warrant attention, and gloves are useful because the foliage can irritate skin.
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Cupressus × leylandii Cyprysowiec Leylanda 2024-05-26 01.jpg
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At a glance
- Mature height
- 60–70 ft if unpruned
- Mature spread
- 8–15 ft or more
- Light
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Hardy to about USDA Zone 6
The right plant, the right place
Make room for something good.
Leyland cypress suits tall screens, windbreaks, and large hedges where rapid growth is useful. It needs substantial space or a continuing pruning schedule to remain within a smaller planting area.
Where to plant
Plan for an unpruned height of about 60–70 feet and an 8–15-foot or greater spread. Leave airflow between plants and access along both sides of a managed hedge.
Through the seasons
Dense evergreen foliage provides screening throughout the year. The tree is grown for its foliage and upright form.
Southwest Washington gardens
Give it a good start.
Crowded, stressed Leyland screens are vulnerable to disease in Northwest gardens. Good drainage, summer establishment water, and enough room to maintain the hedge help reduce problems as it grows.
Soil, drainage & water
Use well-drained soil and water while roots establish. Monitor a hedge through summer, avoiding both prolonged dryness and saturated soil that leaves roots under persistent stress.
A little care goes a long way
Growing well, season after season.
Trim regularly while growth is manageable, keeping cuts within green foliage. Check for dying branches before pruning and remove affected material in dry weather when a diagnosis supports removal.
Know what to look for
Common growing concerns.
Symptoms can have more than one cause. These notes are a starting point for observing your plant and improving its growing conditions.
Canker and branch dieback
Branches may yellow or brown, with cankers and dead sections developing along affected growth.
Help your plant thrive
Reduce drought stress, crowding, and bark injury. Identify the problem before extensive pruning, and remove affected branches in dry weather when recommended.
Foliage blight
Patches of foliage may look scorched or begin dying back.
Help your plant thrive
Maintain air movement through the planting. Direct irrigation toward the soil and inspect recurring damage before choosing treatment.
A little more inspiration
Keep exploring.
Weeping Norway Spruce
Picea abies 'Pendula'
A sculptural evergreen with hanging branches that can become an upright specimen or a low spreading feature, depending on its form and early training.
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Cupressina Norway Spruce
Picea abies 'Cupressina'
Dense, ascending branches create a slender evergreen column, offering substantial height and winter structure where a full-width spruce would demand too much horizontal space.
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2016.04.12 18.49.07 DSC03409 - Flickr - andrey zharkikh.jpg
Andrey Zharkikh from Salt Lake City, USA
CC BY 2.0 · Web-optimized
Weeping White Spruce
Picea glauca 'Pendula'
A narrow evergreen with an upright leader and dramatically hanging blue-green branches, suited to a cool, open planting space where its tall silhouette can develop.
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