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Cupressocyparis leylandii

Common name:	Leyland Cypress	Family:	Cupressaceae
Author:	(A.B.Jacks.& Dallim.)Dallim.	Botanical references:	11, 200
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	A bi-generic hybrid of garden origin. Cupressus macrocarpa x Chamaecyparis nootkatensis.
Habitat:	Not known in the wild.
Edibility Rating (1-5):	0	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	0

Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Pinales. Cypress family

Physical Characteristics

An evergreen tree growing to 40m by 5m at a fast rate. It is hardy to zone 7 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year. The scented flowers are monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and are pollinated by Wind. It is noted for attracting wildlife. We rate it 0/5 for edibility and 0/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Hedge, Woodland, Canopy.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

None known

Other Uses

Hedge Shelterbelt.

Plants can be grown as a windbreak hedge succeeding in very exposed positions and reasonably tolerant of maritime exposure[11, 75]. They can suffer wind burn after prolonged storms but usually recover quickly[75]. Very fast growing, it can be trimmed so long as it is not cut back into old wood[11, 200]. Only young plants should be used for shelterbelts in exposed positions and these must not be pot-bound or they will never become really wind firm[11]. This species has been much used for hedging in urban gardens but it is singularly unsuitable for this purpose[200]. Although it very quickly provides a screen, it is much too vigorous for most gardens and will need constant attention to keep it within bounds[200].

Cultivation details

An easily grown plant, it prefers a moist fertile soil but also succeeds in sandy soils[188] and tolerates calcareous conditions[245]. Very wind resistant, it tolerates salt-laden winds and maritime exposure[11].
A very fast growing tree, capable of reaching 20 metres within 20 years[185]. A number of different clones are available[185, 200].
The Leyland cypress has been widely planted for hedging in recent years, though it is singularly unsuited for this purpose in all but the largest of sites[200]. The plant has gained the reputation of being very bad for wildlife since it offers native species very little in the way of food. However, it is favoured by many birds for roosting, high cover and especially for nesting because it offers such good cover. Our 12 hectare site was totally devoid of trees when we took it over in 1989, five years later we had our first birds nesting in trees on the land - in 4 metre tall Leyland cypresses![K]. Large specimens of this tree help to attract songbirds to the garden[200].
The bruised foliage has a sweet resinous scent[245].
Trees are notably susceptible to honey fungus[200].

Propagation

Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7cm with a heel, July/August in sandy soil in a humid frame[11]. Strikes readily.
Cuttings from side growths in March[11].

Scent

Leaves: Crushed: The bruised foliage has a sweet resinous scent.

Cultivars

'': No entries have been made for this species as yet.

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

PFAF Web Pages

This plant is mentioned in the following web pages

Web References

[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for the family Cupressaceae.

[CHINA] Data Very detailed botanical/identification info. from the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[75] Rosewarne experimental horticultural station. Shelter Trees and Hedges. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1984
A small booklet packed with information on trees and shrubs for hedging and shelterbelts in exposed maritime areas.

[185] Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO 1975 ISBN 0-11-710012-9
A bit out of date (first published in 1972), but an excellent guide to how well the various species of conifers grow in Britain giving locations of trees.

[188] Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

Readers Comments

UK Gov site on wildlife

Rich (pfaf@scs.leeds.ac.uk.) Sun Mar 12 14:35:27 2000

The DETR Wildlife and Countyside site has a number of intresting and useful resources. Including A Guide to Wildlife Law which covers Protected Plants and Prohibited Plants.

They also have info on tree presevation orders and a guide to hedges. With info on the infamous Leylandii and a natty little chart.

Cross references: Web-pages: Hedges and their uses.

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963

This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Cupressocyparis+leylandii
This page (US) http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Cupressocyparis+leylandii

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