Leyland cypress

Synonyms: купрессоципарис лейланда, Leyland cypress, Leylandii

Сupressocyparis leylandii = Сupressus macrocarpa x Сhamaeсураris nootkatensis

Leyland cypress – a hybrid obtained by natural crossbreeding of Monterey cypress and Nootka cypress. In 1888 at the Leighton Hall estate of John Naylor the female flowers of the Nootka cypress were accidentally pollinated by pollen of Monterey cypress (Monterey cypress) and this hybrid was obtained for the first time. John Naylor's eldest son Christopher John inherited Leighton Hall; upon receiving the inheritance he changed his surname to Leyland and moved to Haggerston Castle in Northumberland, where he developed the hybrid again, naming it “Haggerston Grey”. In 1911 the younger brother John Leighton obtained the hybrid again and named it 'Leighton Green'. Since then more than 20 hybrids of this plant have been obtained, all by open pollination, thereby showing how well these two species are compatible and closely related.

It is an evergreen columnar or narrowly conical tree with a dense symmetrical crown. It reaches 15-20 (30) m in height, 3-5.5 (7) m in width. The height of the tallest tree is 40 m. The plant is fast-growing, the fastest of all conifers. In youth annual growth reaches 1 m. Average annual growth is 40 cm in height and 20 cm in width.

Bark gray-brown, plated. Shoots thin, light brown, drooping to the ground.

Foliage scaly, green or dark green. Branch arrangement is fan-shaped, and the size is the same as in Сhamaecyparis nootkatensis, but it does not smell as strongly when crushed.

Male and female flowers are inconspicuous and occur on the same tree. Buds appear in autumn and open in late winter or early spring, when the female flowers also open.

Cones up to 2 cm across, with 8 pointed scales, under each of which are 5 seeds with small projections, as in Сupressus macrocarpa. They mature in the same year.

Root system shallow, not deep.

Forms: there are more than 40 forms of Leyland cypress. The best known: 'Douglas Gold', 'Drabb', 'Emerald Isle', 'Ferndown', 'Golconda', 'Golden Sun', 'Gold Rider', 'Grecar', 'Green Spire', 'Grelive', Haggerston 3, Haggerston 4, Haggerston 5, Haggerston 6, 'Harlequin', 'Herculea', 'Hyde Hall', 'Irish Mint', 'Jubilee', 'Medownia', 'Michellii', 'Moncal', 'Naylor's Blue', 'New Ornament', 'Olive's Green', 'Robinson's Gold', 'Rostrevor', 'Silver Dust', 'Variegata', 'Ventose' and 'Winter Sun'.

Hardiness zone: 7a. Frost hardiness in Ukraine has been studied only for southern regions (Odessa region south of the Dniester estuary, Zakarpattia – border areas with Slovakia and Hungary, Crimea). It can be grown in the Kyiv region in a sheltered garden area on the southern side of houses.

Site: not demanding about soil, but grows well on nutrient-poor, fresh, acidic or alkaline soil. Drought- and wind-resistant, tolerates urban conditions well. Light-loving, shade-tolerant. With slight shading no defoliation or scorching of the foliage is observed. If the fertile soil layer is small, the balanced development of the plant may be disturbed – the crown may grow very quickly while the root system hardly develops. In such a case the plant may lean and require support.

Planting: planting density for a hedge – 0.6-0.8 m. When planting, apply organic fertilizer at 2-3 kg per plant.

Pruning: tolerates pruning well. Pruning is carried out at the end of summer.

Care: watering is needed only during prolonged drought. In spring a three-component complex fertilizer can be applied (30-50 g per plant).

Diseases and pests: practically not affected by diseases. From pests it is rarely affected by spider mites and wood-boring beetles.

Propagation: the hybrid's pollen is sterile; all obtained plants propagate well by cuttings. Cuttings should be taken in September-October, up to 10 cm long. They should be planted into a soil mixture of peat and sand in a 1:1 ratio and kept in a closed unheated room. Once roots form the seedlings can be planted out in the open ground or into pots. Layering can also be used in cultivation.

Uses: the plant's sap may cause skin irritation. Popular in Europe for creating tall hedges (over 2.5 m). Also looks good as a specimen on a lawn.