The Lemon Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa "Gold Crest") is an evergreen, coniferous tree with impressive foliage. It belongs to the family Cupressaceae. It is mainly endemic to California and New Zealand.
Plant description
Lemon Cypress has a uniform conical hair. It reaches 2-3 meters in height in 10 years and 15 meters in height and 4 to 8 meters wide in about 50 years. Its shoots are round and convex upwards. Its foliage is dense with an intense light green color that releases a lemon aroma. Its leaves are needle-shaped, triangular, cross-shaped opposite. The fruits are spherical cones, brown in color and up to 4 cm in diameter.
Plant care
Location:
It grows satisfactorily in all types of soils, without particular problems. Prerequisite for the soil to be well drained. Prefers sandy soils, rich in nutrients. Prefers sunny places protected from strong or hot winds. In semi-shady places, the color of the foliage is affected.
Watering:
It has moderate water requirements, except in the summer months when you can increase its watering. In winter we water about every 10 days. In summer 3 to 4 times a week. In spring and autumn 1 to 2 times a week.
Lubrication:
Apply the fertilizer in spring and summer (once a month). You can use either a complete, granular fertilizer by spreading it on the soil between the plants and then watering well, or by dissolving a water-soluble fertilizer in the watering can.
Durability:
It thrives in places with mild winters and can withstand cold and low temperatures up to - 18οC. Caution is required with strong winds. Suitable for planting in areas with heavy air pollution. It withstands coastal areas.
Pruning:
It is necessary to removal of dried and diseased shoots in early spring. Apply a light pruning of the configuration, the crown and remove all the lateral shoots, to maintain its shape.
!!It is recommended to avoid pruning in hot and humid weather!!
Uses of the plant
Lemon cypress is used in landscape architecture because of its dense foliage and lemon aroma.
It is suitable for:
- Ideal for parks and yards.
- Forms beautiful clusters.
- To create windbreaks.
- For tree lines in parks, streets.
- For planting pots.
- In individual positions.
- For planting in coastal areas.
Diseases and enemies
Lemon cypress is a plant resistant to diseases and insects. Its most common enemy is granule infestation.
It is also often affected by fungal diseases. The herbivorous fungus infects the root and the drying of the plants is observed starting from the inside of the branches to the outside.
