Cypress is among the top most common species that designers use for landscaping private areas and public spaces. The plant looks great as a central view, as well as the best addition or background for all kinds of plants. The article describes in detail what this coniferous species is like, provides a detailed description of all its morphological characteristics, and also indicates how long and how long cypress can grow and develop.
Botanical tree description
Cypress is a typical representative of the eponymous genus (Cupressus), part of the Cypress family (Cupressaceae) and is a large evergreen shrub or tree. It is customary to use the plant in the field of landscape design, as one of the main objects of landscaping species.
What do the seeds look like
The seeds of this plant are quite small, with a diameter of 2-4 mm, brown. Each seed has a flattened shape, a small wing of irregular shape. Such a configuration gives them good aerodynamic properties and allows them to propagate through the wind for several kilometers from the parent plant.
Branches
Branches of cypress are often of a quadrangular or regular round section, covered with a thin and smooth bark of brown color. In the first years of growth, the branches form a wide and spreading crown, but as they grow, they are pressed to the stem and the crown takes the form of pyramidal outlines. The trunk of representatives of the genus can be erect or curved, covered with a smooth brown bark, which acquires a furrowed structure as it grows. Depending on the variety, the average height of the adult tree form is 18–25 m, while the shrub does not exceed 1.5–2 m.
Each member of the Cypress family is a true coniferous species.. Branches of young forms are covered with a small soft needle leaf. As they grow, such formations acquire a scaly structure, with an average length of each plate of about 2 mm.
Regardless of age, the needles on the branches have a fairly saturated green or bluish-green color.
Bumps
This genus of plants is one of the characteristic representatives of the gymnosperms group. This means that its fruit is small pineal-shaped formations with a diameter of about 4 cm. They ripen by the second year from the moment of formation. The cypress cone is characterized by an ovoid or spherical shape, as well as a grayish-brown color. It consists of thick but flat woody scales that take the form of a polyhedron. On the front side of each plate there is a small pointed formation. Seeds are located on the back of each scale in close proximity in several layers.
How cypress blooms
During the growing season, it is not typical for a plant to form a flower, however this representative of gymnosperms is able to enter the so-called flowering phase. Under the process it is understood the onset of the pollination period. It occurs around the end of February or early March and lasts for 3-4 weeks. It looks like this: the plant is covered with small light green male and female strobiles. During the optimal period, pollen is released from the male pollen, which pollinates female strobiles. In the future, the so-called fetus is formed (for 2-3 years after pollination) - a lumpy cone with numerous seeds.
How it smells
The unique smell of needles is one of the distinguishing features of this group of plants. The green mass is characterized by a tart, quite saturated, but warm resinous aroma. When rubbing in the palms of the needles, a light lemon smell joins the main aroma.
How cypress differs from cypress
Today, in addition to cypress, the so-called cypress (Chamaecyparis) is widely used in culture. This genus is actively used in home gardening, as well as for decorating public places (parks, squares, etc.). The representative of the flora belongs to the Cypress family and is the closest relative to ordinary cypress..
Important! Cypress is characterized by high cold resistance, so this genus is often found in temperate and northern climates.
However, it has several distinctive features:
- representatives of the species are able to extend up to 70 m;
- this tree often grows no more than 100 years;
- its branches are slightly flattened;
- cones in diameter up to 2-3 cm;
- each cone scales hides no more than 2 seeds (cypress can have about 4);
- seed ripening takes place in one season.
Types of Cypress
This genus is considered one of the most isolated, so today there is no single list of all kinds of its varieties. At the same time, several popular forms are singled out in culture at once, which have been actively used for landscaping private plots over a decade, as well as landscaping common areas.
These include, first of all, the following types of cypress:
- Siberian - a short mini-tree with a maximum height of 1 m. It differs in a thick and spreading, but at the same time compact crown. The needles of the plant are soft, pleasant to the touch, saturated green;
- arizona - a tree with a pin-shaped and spreading crown, not more than 20 m high. The needles of the species are soft, saturated green. Arizona cypress has high frost resistance and is able to withstand seasonal frosts down to -25 ° C;
- evergreen - cold and drought resistant hybrid, which is also considered one of the most gigantic. The average height of the tree reaches at least 30 m, the trunk is quite thick, up to 60 cm in diameter (in adult forms). The crown of the plant consists of ascending, but tightly pressed branches, covered with soft green needles;
- large fruited - a medium-sized tree up to 20–25 m high. The trunk of young forms is even, but over time it characteristically bends in different directions. This gives the view a special decorative effect, as the adult form resembles an enlarged copy of bonsai trees;
- weeping - a tree-like species, up to 18 m high. The crown of this plant is cone-shaped with elongated shoots hanging to the soil. In addition, a distinctive feature of the form is considered to be elegant, bluish-green or grayish-green needles pleasant to the touch.
Habitat
The natural habitat of cypress is the territory of the tropical and subtropical climate of the Northern Hemisphere, as well as southern China. Widely enough, these conifers are also common in the United States: from Oregon to Guatemala.
Where grows in Russia
In Russia, this genus is also found quite widely. The coast of the Black Sea, as well as the Caucasus and Crimea are considered to be its traditional habitat in the wild.. However, at home, in a garden pot, cypress trees can be found everywhere, regardless of the climatic characteristics of the region.
Did you know? The oldest cypress in the world grows in Iran in the city of Eberku. This tree is 25 meters high and has a crown diameter of about 18 m, and its age is about 4 thousand years.
Cypress growth
Growth activity is one of the main distinguishing features of each plant, and cypress is no exception in this regard. A detailed assessment of this characteristic allows not only to get acquainted with its physiological characteristics, but also to choose the best place for planting in the garden for it. And this is the main rule for creating high-quality landscape design.
How many years does cypress grow and how fast
The most active branches and trunk of cypress are able to grow during the first years of life (several tens of centimeters per season). This period is often observed for 3-5 years, after which growth activity is significantly reduced. In order to grow to a full-grown adult form, a tree or shrub requires up to 50-60 years, after which growth is inhibited. Subsequently, annual growth is about 1 cm per year.
Video: Characterization of Evergreen Cypress
How many lives
This representative of the flora is a true long-liver. To achieve maximum size cypress requires at least 100 years. Moreover, the total life expectancy of this species in favorable conditions is at least 200 years.
Does species and variety affect growth
Species and varietal affiliation are the main features that affect both the cypress growth rate and the maximum plant size. This is explained by the fact that each representative of the flora is characterized by a unique set of recessive and dominant genes. This directly creates an individual growth rate, as well as permissible norms and maximum values for each representative of a particular variety.
Highest cypress
As practice shows, the average size of the highest (tree-like) representatives of the Cypress family is about 18–25 m. However, a particularly tall specimen is distinguished from this group of vegetation. It is the so-called two row row taxium (Swamp cypress). A tree can grow up to 40 m in height, while the average diameter of its trunk is 1-3 m, and the maximum reaches 5 m.
Root system
The root system in this group of plants is of the stem type, well developed. Its basis is a powerful main root, from which numerous lateral appendages depart. Such a structure allows the roots to penetrate deeply into the soil, firmly fix in the substrate and grow safely in areas with low levels of groundwater.
Important! The root system of cypresses is quite tender, therefore, during the departure, the young plant requires a sparing regime of all kinds of agrotechnical procedures.
Use in landscape design
The use of cypress in gardening, as well as landscape art, is quite widespread. Most often, mass plantings of plants can be found near sidewalks and paths as an evergreen hedge. However, the look looks no less exquisite in combination with all kinds of conifers and deciduous species, as well as annual flowers. Ideally, cypress can complement the rock garden, to create the necessary background and fill the upper tier of the flower bed, or become the central plant in the garden.
Often the view can be seen in a room pot. Due to long-term growth, as well as fragrant crown and special decorative properties, a small tree can successfully complement almost any interior. And in some cases, become his main highlight.
Use in other areas
According to archaeological finds, all kinds of cypress have been used in culture for many centuries. The most valuable is the so-called cypress oil obtained from needles. Since ancient times, it has been used for aromatic purposes, as well as a universal antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial agent.
The wood of this plant is distinguished by its exquisite natural pattern, easy to process, and is not affected by fungi and pests.. This allowed her to find wide application in the manufacture of all kinds of household items, church utensils, furniture, as well as for general construction purposes.
Did you know? Due to its bactericidal properties, cypress oil was one of the constituent parts of the ritual balsam, which was used in ancient Egypt to create mummies of the pharaohs and nobles.
Cypress is one of the most valuable plants used in culture for many centuries. This genus of plants gives people valuable wood, extremely fragrant and healthy oils, and can also successfully complement almost any garden. However, in the course of cultivation, cypresses require a lot of attention and skills, therefore, it is strongly recommended that beginning growers before growing them familiarize themselves with the basics of proper planting and grooming techniques.
