Knowledgebase

Potted Italian Cypress Trees #735732

Asked December 26, 2020, 8:19 AM EST

Hello, I could use some help, my potted Italian Cypress Trees seems to be dry at the tippy top. Not turning brown. I have three of them, about two years old, bought them as seedlings. I’ve kept them outside in the summer and I keep them inside in the Winter. I was told they can’t be outside under 60 degrees. They were potted together and I separated them a month ago and planted them In their own pots. Did I cause damage???

Westchester County New York

Expert Response

Cupressus sempervirens, commonly called Italian cypress, is an evergreen conifer that is native to southern Europe and western Asia. In its native habitat, it typically grows in a spreading, open-horizontal form (sometimes referred to as var. horizontalis) that is rarely if ever sold in commerce. Trees commonly sold in commerce as Italian cypress are of the familiar narrow-columnar or fastigiate form that typically grows 40-60’ (less frequently to 80’) tall. This columnar/fastigiate form (sometime referred to as C. s. var. sempervirensC. s. ‘Stricta’ or Stricta Group), is unknown to the wild, but was the tree originally described by Linneaus as Cupressus sempervirens and is the cypress of classical literature that has been commonly planted in Italian classic gardens since Renaissance times. This columnar/fastigiate form features scale-like dark gray-green leaves on upright branches. Foliage is aromatic when crushed. Rounded fruiting cones (to 1.5” diameter).
Care: Keep in full sun as much as possible during this low light winter season. Water thoroughly, once a week early in the day. Hopefully, they will produce new roots to support top growth since they were recently potted rather early. Hope this helps.



An Ask Extension Expert Replied December 28, 2020, 11:36 AM EST
Thank you so much! My husbands uncle told me to repot it in November. I wasn’t sure what to do but he’s a landscaper, Italian so I figured I’d do it. They really needed to be repotted.

The  fragrance is wonderful! 

I’m afraid to water daily. The soil seems to stay wet a while and I don’t want to chance root rot. 
While I’m home I might try moving them from room to room to get the most hours of sun as possible. 
Thank you!!! 
The Question Asker Replied December 28, 2020, 2:04 PM EST

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