How To Care For Your Lemon Cypress

I found this arrangement in a little Central California town called Los Olivos in the Martini Valley. I'm just kidding about the Martini Valley part. I don't even know if such a place exists.

I walked out of my yoga class Sunday morning. I was feeling quite grounded, peaceful and relaxed. I was also feeling sort of...peckish. Lucky for me I stepped right out of the Yoga Center into The Farmer’s market.

I bought a couple of yummy things from the Indian food booth and walked toward my car. On the way, I passed a plant booth with lemon cypress trees. They were so cute—they looked like mini trees. I have seen them before in arrangements specifically made to look like mini trees.

Then I saw their special sale price of only $2 a piece. The moment I saw that sale sign, I felt a warm breeze against my face carrying the heady aroma of the farmer’s market food booths. The sky seemed bluer and I could almost hear the birds in the trees calling my name—“cheap, cheap, cheap.”

Ahhh, I love Sundays.

The lemon cypress tree is known scientifically as cupressus macrocarpa. Their cultivar name is ‘Goldcrest’. It is a shrub native to California. Lemon cypress thrives in USDA hardiness zones 7 through 10. Its foliage is lemon-scented in the summer. Dwarf varieties do great as ornamentals in small pots. Larger trees are an interesting alternative to the traditional Christmas tree.

The lemon cypress does best in a location that gets at least five hours of full sun per day.

If you are going to keep them indoors, keep the cypress near the window for maximum light. Lemon cypress plants do best outside, so it can be tricky trying to keep them alive indoors for any length of time. Keep the soil moist but not soaking wet. They also like to be fed on a regular basis with something acidic like Miracid. Do not over feed them.

Lemon cypresses are very susceptible to aphids. Spray them at the beginning of spring or at the first sign of aphids, which leave a black, sooty substance on the tree. This damage can occur quickly, and a lemon cypress may take several seasons to recover from an infestation.

Lemon cypress must be pruned on a regular basis to maintain their natural triangle shape. Pruning is so important, that if the cypress is not pruned it will go brittle and quickly and die.

Placed in an attractive pot, they also make a nice hostess gift. So, when you come to my next party, you know what to bring.

Happy planting.

Comments

[Wood Greenhouse Kits]

hey..thanks for the lovely tips, i will definitely follow them..i like the post a lot, i really needed information about Lemon Cypress, and i finally got it through your post..keep it up..

[CheyAnne]

I had ever heard of this before but sounds intriguing. I love lemon scented anything and this sounds great. Maybe in our new hallway between domes.
peace n abundance,
CheyAnne
http://cheyannesexton.etsy.com

[Sharon Hurkmans]

I received a lemon cypress tree for Christmas this year. We are in zone 4 in the United States, and this tree does best in zones 7 to 10. How do I keep my tree alive in zone 4? And can I ever put it outdoors in the summer time?
Thanks
Hurkies.

[chigiy]

Lemon Cypress must be kept indoors in the winter in zone 4. Keep it by a sunny window. It needs 3-5 hours of direct sunlight a day.
You don't need to keep your house extra warm, as a matter of fact keeping your house too warm could harm the plant. Keep the soil evenly moist, don't let it dry out or get soggy. You can fertilize the tree once a month with acid loving fertilizer. Keep the plant trimmed. You can put it outside in the summer if the nights don't get too cold. I hope this helps.

[Elvetta Adams]

I really love the little village in a broken pot it's one of the most unique planters I have seen thank you for the idea and sharing it with us.

[Joanne]

I love this flower pot idea...very sweet!
Blessings, Joanne

[Granny D]

I would love to know where to get these. Great Idea

[chigiy]

Wow, I feel terrible that I didn't include the web address of J. Woeste home garden treasures and Succulents in Los Olivos sooner. I thought I had already mentioned it on my blog, sorry. Here is the website: http://www.jwoeste.com
It is a fabulous nursery/gift store. I go out of the way to Los Olivos when ever I am in that Central Coast area just to see it.

[Dee Nash (@reddirtramblin)]

Thanks so much for the info. I bought a couple of these little trees today. I'm going to try them outside in very large containers with occasional cover for winter. Later, I'll transplant them into the garden if it works.

[chigiy]

Hi Dee,
Thank you for visiting. I hope you let me know how your trees do. Cheers.

[paul]

I've owned my 4 lemon cypress plants for a few months and noticed one has become brittle and dry.How should I return it to better form??

[Suki]

How do you care for the Lemon Cypress tree in zone 18. I received it as a Christmas gift & love it but its losing its foliage.

[leslie]

Hi,

I have 2 little cypress trees in pots on the front, south side of the house, get full sun. I was planning on moving them this summer as the tag said they like shade. Can they take take the direct hot summer sun in zone 8 ?

[chigiy Binell]

Hi Leslie,
Your plants should do fine in full sun in zone 8. Make sure the rootball does not dry out, Thanks for visiting.

[Allison]

I'm curious where you got the little house? I'm trying to recreate this for my mom and can't find a house like this anywhere...

[chigiy Binell]

Hi Allison,
The whole arrangement came from a shop in Los Olivos called J. Woeste, But my friend made me a house that is even better. I will take a photo of it soon. Look up J. Woeste in Los Olivos, ca.

[Mo Faulkner]

Hi I love the planter you artistically made. I've been looking for ideas as to what to do, and yours is by far the best. Thank you. From Mo