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Cupressus macrocarpa

Common name:	Monterey Cypress	Family:	Cupressaceae
Author:	Hartw. ex Gordon.	Botanical references:	11, 200
Synonyms:	Cupressus lambertiana (Gord.)
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	South-western N. America - California.
Habitat:	Cliffs by the shore in just 2 small locations in California[11, 82].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	0	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	1

Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Cypress, Monterey [S], Monterey Cypress [P,H,FEIS,B,E], Monterey, Cypress [S],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	macrocarpa = large fruited
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Pinales. Cypress family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	Us

Physical Characteristics

An evergreen tree growing to 25m by 25m at a fast rate. It is hardy to zone 8. It is in leaf all year, in flower from April to June. 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. We rate it 0/5 for edibility and 1/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Hedge, Woodland, Canopy.

Cultivar 'Lutea': Hedge, Woodland, Canopy.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Antirheumatic.

A decoction of the foliage has been used in the treatment of rheumatism[257].

Other Uses

Hedge Shelterbelt Wood.

A good fast growing hedge for the milder areas of Britain, tolerating maritime exposure[11, 29, 75]. It can be trimmed so long as it is not cut back into old wood.
Wood - heavy, hard, strong, close-grained and very durable[82]. Used for general construction[50, 61].

Cultivation details

Thrives in a well-drained loamy or peaty soil[11]. Very tolerant of hot dry conditions[81]. Tolerates poor sandy soils[81] but is then more subject to insect damage in a succession of dry seasons[11]. Requires a sunny position[81]. Plants are not happy when growing on chalk, but they thrive on limestone[200]. Very tolerant of maritime exposure[11, 75, 82] but plants are not very wind firm in shallow soils[166]. Young trees require staking when planted in very exposed positions[75].
This species is somewhat tender in Britain, especially when young and at least in the north of the country Established trees, however, will tolerate occasional temperatures down to about -10° c and are hardy in most British winters[11, 81, 260]. A tree is 25 metres tall at Kew (1988) but in general they grow better in the western maritime zone[11]. The variety 'Lutea' is hardier than the type and is also more tolerant of wind and salt spray as well as of trimming[185].
New growth takes place from May to September and can be very vigorous when young with new shoots 1 metre long and increases in girth of 5cm or more a year even in old trees[185]. Trees in a very exposed maritime position at Rosewarne in N. &ndndndnd were 12 metres tall after 30 years[75].
Resents root disturbance, it is best planted out when the roots are in active growth in early autumn or spring[81].
Often planted for shelter and ornament, and also occasionally for timber in W. and S. Europe[50].
The cones ripen in their second year[82]. They can remain closed on the tree for a number of years, opening after the heat of a forest fire to scatter their seeds which then germinate and grow quickly in the ashes of the fire[200].
The crushed leaves have a strong scent of lemon verbena[185].
Trees are notably susceptible to honey fungus[200].

Propagation

Seed - sow late winter in a cold frame and only just cover the seed[164]. Three weeks cold stratification can improve germination rates[164]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 2 months at 20° c. The seedlings are very subject to damping off so should be watered with care and kept well-ventilated[113]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. The seed can store for several years[113].
Cuttings of almost ripe wood, September in a frost-proof frame[1]. April/May is the best time to take cuttings[113].

Scent

Leaves: Crushed: The crushed leaves have a strong scent of lemon[260].

Cultivars

'Lutea': This cultivar is hardier than the type and is also more tolerant of wind and salt spray as well as of trimming[185]. Trees in a very exposed maritime position at Rosewarne in N. &ndndndnd were 12m tall after 30 years[75].

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

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[S] Illustration from the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[C] Taxon data. from the CalFlora database.
Images from the CalPhoto database.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database
[FEIS] Data (Uses, Ecology, Fire Effects) from the USDA Forestry Service Fire Effects Information System.

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

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[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.

[29] Shepherd. F.W. Hedges and Screens. Royal Horticultural Society. 1974 ISBN 0900629649
A small but informative booklet giving details of all the hedging plants being grown in the R.H.S. gardens at Wisley in Surrey.

[50] ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964
An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.

[61] Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

[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.

[81] Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm 1987 ISBN 0-7470-2801-X
Deals with conifers that can be grown outdoors in Britain. Good notes on cultivation and a few bits about plant uses.

[82] Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965 ISBN 0-486-20278-X
Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader.

[113] Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987 ISBN 0942375009
A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.

[164] Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. A good article on Yuccas, one on Sagebrush (Artemesia spp) and another on Chaerophyllum bulbosum.

[166] Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990
A good book on plants that you didn't know could be grown outdoors in Britain.

[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.

[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.

[257] Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.

[260] Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998 ISBN 0-330-37376-5
Excellent photos of over 1,100 species and cultivars with habits and cultivation details plus a few plant uses. Many species are too tender for outdoors in Britain though there are many that can be grown outside.

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
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