How to Grow and Care for Lemon Cypress Trees

You might recognize the lemon cypress as the potted evergreen that seems to show up in every big box retail store before Christmas. However, this narrow, columnar evergreen tree is more than a lemon-scented holiday plant for indoors. It is a versatile needled conifer that can be used as a hedge, specimen, bonsai,or kept in a container on a patio.

Also commonly referred to as theGoldcrest Monterey Cypress, Cupressus macrocarpa‘Goldcrest’ (also known as Hesperocyparis macrocarpa) is a Monterey cypress cultivar with upward-growing branches. The unique yellow-green color of the lemon cypress can play off the darker greens of other conifers, while texture can be experimented with by placing the shrub next to boulders and fencing.

Lemon Cypress Care

One of the great things about C. macrocarpa‘Goldcrest’ is that it is an easy plant to care for.

• Provide full sun to partial shade.
• Do not enrich the soil.
• Water a new plant weekly until established.

Light

Lemon cypress trees require a good amount of light. Outdoors, a lemon cypress tree should be planted in full sun to partial shade. Indoors, the tree needs 5 to 6 hours of indirect sunlight or morning sun; don't put it in a wast-facing window, as the bright light can harm the foliage.

Soil

The lemon cypress is adapted to grow in poor, sandy, well-draining soils that are low in organics and not very fertile. This poor soil allows the slow-growing tree to pace its development to match its height with its roots, helping to ensure that winds do not blow the thin and narrow plant over.

Water

As an outdoor shrub or tree, once established, the lemon cypress needs little supplemental watering. Allow the plant to establish itself bywatering it once a week during the first season.

If kept as a houseplant, give it a thorough deep watering weekly, ensuring the soil is never too dry.

Temperature and Humidity

A lemon cypress prefers cool, moist climates with temperatures between 20°F and 80°F. Grown indoors, the lemon cypress needs to be kept in a place with sufficient humidity.

Fertilizer

Don't fertilize a lemon cypress tree. It's native environment has poor soil conditions, and rich soils will cause quick, uneven growth and could result in an unstable tree.

Types of Lemon Cypress

In addition to the straight species. Cupressus macrocarpa. a few cultivars of Monterey cypress have been bred:

• C. macrocarpa 'Goldcrest Wilma': a slow-growing dwarf cultivar, 6 to 8 ft. tall, and 1 to 2 ft. wide, with fragrant, golden yellow needles
• C. macrocarpa 'Golden Pillar': with golden yellow needles when grown in a sunny location, and a mature size of 20 ft. tall and 4 ft. wide
• C. macrocarpa 'Citriodora': a slow-growing cultivar that can reach 15 to 30 ft. in height. New growth is bright yellow and turns deep green in the first year.

Pruning

Lemon cypress looks best in its natural, untrimmed, slow-growing upright shape. The only regular pruning maintenance required is when the lemon cypress is used as a hedge, bonsai, or topiary. In these cases, it needs to be done carefully and in a timely fashion. This shrub, like most conifers, does not take well to hard pruning.

Pruning Tip

Looking for the best pruners for your lemon cypresses? We tested top-rated pruners in our Lab to make sure your shrubs stay happy and healthy.

Propagating Lemon Cypress

The best time for propagating lemon cypress from cuttings is in the winter. Here's how it's done:

1. Cut stem. Cut a piece of stem about 4 inches long.
2. Remove lower leaves. Strip the foliage off the bottom part of the stem so the first 2 inches are bare.
3. Prepare new pot. Add moist, well-draining potting mix to a small pot. Use a pencil to poke a hole in the soil mix.
4. Use rooting hormone and plant. Moisten the cut end and dip it in rooting hormone.Insert the cutting into the small hole in the soil.
5. Cover pot with plastic. Cover the pot with a plastic bag and use sticks to keep the plastic in place. Make sure the plastic does not touch the cutting.
6. Place in bright location. Place the pot in a warm location away from direct sunlight. Water it as needed to keep it evenly moist.
7. Remove plastic bag and let plant grow. When the cutting has developed a good root system—you'll know it's there when the stem does not move if you gently tug on it—it's time to remove the plastic bag, move the pot to a sunny location, and let the sapling continue to grow in the container, or transplant it outdoors.

How to Grow Lemon Cypress From Seeds

Most lemon cypress trees are cultivars and propagating them from seed does not produce a plant with the same features as the parent, therefore, propagation from seed is not recommended.

Potting and Repotting Lemon Cypress

Excellent drainage is crucial for lemon cypress so make sure the pot you use has large drain holes. Terracotta pots are ideal because they let air get to the roots but the pots also dry out faster so adjust the watering frequency accordingly.

If keeping the lemon cypress in a container, it should be repotted once every three to four years. Move it to a larger pot at least one inch wider than the old pot and backfill with fresh potting mix.Prune the roots conservatively to keep growth in check while repotting.

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Overwintering

Even when grown in a temperature range where it can be grown outdoors, cold winter winds burn the needles so the tree needs some protection. Below USDA zone 7, lemon cypress is best grown in a container and brought indoors during the winter. Keep the humidity around it high by adding a humidifier to the area and place it away from any drafts or heaters.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

Cypress is prone to attacks by aphids, mealybugs, caterpillars, and scale insects. These usually don't affect the overall health of the tree and can be controlled with insecticidal soap.

A more serious problem is coryneum canker, a fungus that can kill the tree. To keep it under control, remove infected branches promptly and dispose of them in the trash.

Pest to Watch

If you suspect aphids, look for white, pink, or gray specks on your plant. For light infestations, remove them using your fingers or a cotton swab.

Common Problems With Lemon Cypress

After pruning a potted lemon cypress, you might notice that the tips of the pruned branches turn brown. That is part of the natural process and the brown spots should be disguised in due time by new bushy growth.

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• Do lemon cypress trees smell like lemon?

  Yes, lemon cypress trees smell like lemon. The needles exude a light citrus fragrance when touched or crushed.

• How tall does a lemon cypress get?

  A lemon cypress tree can grow to around 10 feet tall outdoors, but will stay about 3 feet tall indoors. It also depends on the variety.

• Is lemon cypress a Christmas tree?

  No, the lemon cypress is not a Christmas tree. The golden needles make lemon cypress a popular holiday plant but it is usually small in size and its branches won't support the weight of ornaments.

• Does lemon cypress repel mosquitoes?

  No, lemon cypress will not repel mosquitoes. The only way for lemon-scented plants, like lemon thyme or citronella grass, to repel mosquitoes is if you crush the leaves and rub them on your skin.

From: thespruce