Leyland Cypress (× Cupressocyparis leylandii)
| Needle retention | Dries rapidly in a warm house if not watered regularly |
|---|---|
| Fragrance | Very little aroma; produces no sap: a favorite of sap-allergic households |
| Needles | Soft, feathery flat sprays of scale-like foliage |
| Ornaments | Soft flexible limbs: lighter ornaments only |
| Color | Dark green to gray, brighter than red cedar |
| Grown in | The most popular Christmas tree in the Southeast; grown in California and across the South |
| USDA zones | 6-10 (for planting a living tree; find your zone by ZIP) |
Worth knowing
- A sterile hybrid of Monterey cypress and Alaskan cedar discovered in Wales in 1888: every tree is grown from cuttings.
- Sold almost entirely at choose-and-cut farms.
Care notes
Whatever the species: make a fresh half-inch cut off the trunk before it goes in the stand, use a stand that holds a quart of water per inch of trunk diameter, top it up daily, and keep the tree away from heat. Details in the care guide.
Sources: NC State Extension: Selection and Care of Christmas Trees · National Christmas Tree Association: Tree Varieties · NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox