Monterey Cypress
Hesperocyparis macrocarpa
An evergreen conifer featuring dark green scale-like foliage, an initially conical crown that flattens and broadens with age, and reddish-brown fibrous bark.
- Light
- Full sun, requiring at least six hours of direct sunlight daily.
- Water
- Moderate water needs when young; highly drought-tolerant once established. Allow the soil to dry between waterings to prevent root issues.
- Growth
- Perennial evergreen tree with a fast growth rate when young, reaching mature heights of 40 to 70 feet with a broad, spreading crown.
Care instructions
Provide full sun exposure and well-draining soil. Water deeply during establishment, reducing frequency as the tree matures because it has good drought tolerance once established. Apply balanced fertilizer in spring if growth is slow.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun, requiring at least six hours of direct sunlight daily.
Watering
Moderate water needs when young; highly drought-tolerant once established. Allow the soil to dry between waterings to prevent root issues.
Soil
Prefers sandy, loamy, or well-drained clay soils with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH, though it adapts well to various well-draining soil types.
Hardiness zone
USDA zones 7 through 10
Growth habit
Perennial evergreen tree with a fast growth rate when young, reaching mature heights of 40 to 70 feet with a broad, spreading crown.
Bloom season
Non-flowering
Propagation
Propagated primarily through seed sown in spring or via semi-hardwood cuttings taken in late summer or autumn.
Common pests & issues
Susceptible to cypress canker, root rot in poorly draining soils, and occasional infestations by aphids or spider mites.
Similar species
Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), which features a much narrower, tightly columnar growth habit compared to the spreading, flattened crown of the Monterey Cypress.