Cupressus sempervirens
L.
Cupressaceae
Common Name: Italian Cypress
Tree
Photograph by: Chneophytou
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Tree
Photograph by: Chneophytou
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Growing out of a wall in Cypress
Photograph by: Stacey Meadwell
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
Female cones and leaves
Photograph by: Lucarelli
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
General Information
Italian cypress is an evergreen tree with a very narrow, pencil-shaped crown, that can grow up to 40 metres tall. The bole can be up to 200cm in diameter[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
372- Title
- Flowers of India
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.flowersofindia.net/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
].
The tree has been planted as a timber crop in areas from the warm temperate zone to the tropics, often being grown in east Africa[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. It is widely grown as an ornamental.
Known Hazards
Poisonous[
76- Title
- Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Cooper. M. and Johnson. A.
- Publisher
- HMSO
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 0112425291
- Description
- Concentrates mainly on the effects of poisonous plants to livestock.
]. No more details.
Botanical References
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
,
50- Title
- Flora Europaea
- Publication
-
- Author
- ?
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Year
- 1964
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- 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.
,
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Range
S. Europe to W. Asia.
Habitat
Rocky mountainous areas, usually near the coast, in S. Europe[
45- Title
- Flowers of Greece and the Balkans.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Polunin. O.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1980
- ISBN
- 0-19-217626-9
- Description
- A good pocket flora, it also lists quite a few plant uses.
,
89- Title
- Flowers of the Mediterranean.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Polunin. O. and Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- Hogarth Press
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
- 0-7012-0784-1
- Description
- A very readable pocket flora that is well illustrated. Gives some information on plant uses.
].
Properties
Medicinal Rating |   |
Other Uses Rating |    |
Habit | Evergreen Tree |
Height | 30.00 m |
Growth Rate | Medium |
Pollinators | Wind |
Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Italian cypress is a plant of the warm temperate zone, but able to be cultivated in the subtropics and at higher elevations in the tropics[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Thrives in a deep well-drained loamy or peaty soil[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
]. Established plants are very tolerant of hot dry conditions and drought[
81- Title
- Conifers.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Rushforth. K.
- Publisher
- Christopher Helm
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
- 0-7470-2801-X
- Description
- Deals with conifers that can be grown outdoors in Britain. Good notes on cultivation and a few bits about plant uses.
]. Tolerates poor sandy soils[
81- Title
- Conifers.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Rushforth. K.
- Publisher
- Christopher Helm
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
- 0-7470-2801-X
- Description
- Deals with conifers that can be grown outdoors in Britain. Good notes on cultivation and a few bits about plant uses.
] but is then more subject to damage by white-scale insects in a succession of dry seasons[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
]. Plants are not very happy when growing on chalky soils but they thrive on limestone[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Requires a sunny position[
81- Title
- Conifers.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Rushforth. K.
- Publisher
- Christopher Helm
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
- 0-7470-2801-X
- Description
- Deals with conifers that can be grown outdoors in Britain. Good notes on cultivation and a few bits about plant uses.
].
Growth can be quite vigorous, especially in young trees, with many averaging 60cm a year[
185- Title
- Conifers in the British Isles.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Mitchell. A. F.
- Publisher
- HMSO
- Year
- 1975
- ISBN
- 0-11-710012-9
- Description
- 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.
]. Growth slows and almost comes to a halt when the tree is 12 - 15 metres tall[
185- Title
- Conifers in the British Isles.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Mitchell. A. F.
- Publisher
- HMSO
- Year
- 1975
- ISBN
- 0-11-710012-9
- Description
- 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.
].
Plants are subject to injury by the wind[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
,
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
].
Trees are notably susceptible to honey fungus[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
The seed takes two summers to mature[
227- Title
- Trees of North Texas
- Publication
-
- Author
- Vines. R.A.
- Publisher
- University of Texas Press.
- Year
- 1982
- ISBN
- 0292780206
- Description
- A readable guide to the area, it contains descriptions of the plants and their habitats with quite a bit of information on plant uses.
]. Mature cones can remain unopened on the tree for a number of years[
81- Title
- Conifers.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Rushforth. K.
- Publisher
- Christopher Helm
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
- 0-7470-2801-X
- Description
- Deals with conifers that can be grown outdoors in Britain. Good notes on cultivation and a few bits about plant uses.
]. They open after the heat of a forest fire to scatter their seeds which then germinate and grow away quickly in the ashes of the fire[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Plants are resentful of root disturbance, any transplanting should be done in April or September when the roots are in active growth[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
,
81- Title
- Conifers.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Rushforth. K.
- Publisher
- Christopher Helm
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
- 0-7470-2801-X
- Description
- Deals with conifers that can be grown outdoors in Britain. Good notes on cultivation and a few bits about plant uses.
].
A very variable plant[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The cones and young branches are anthelmintic, antipyretic, antirheumatic, antiseptic, astringent, balsamic and vasoconstrictor[
7- Title
- Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chiej. R.
- Publisher
- MacDonald
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 0-356-10541-5
- Description
- Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.
,
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
240- Title
- Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
- Publisher
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
]. They are harvested in late winter and early spring, then dried for later use[
7- Title
- Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chiej. R.
- Publisher
- MacDonald
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 0-356-10541-5
- Description
- Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.
]. Taken internally, it is used in the treatment of whooping cough, the spitting up of blood, spasmodic coughs, colds, flu and sore throats[
254- Title
- The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chevallier. A.
- Publisher
- Dorling Kindersley. London
- Year
- 1996
- ISBN
- 9-780751-303148
- Description
- An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
]. Decoctions of the branches and leaves are reported to be used to treat peptic ulcers, haemorrhoids and menstruation problems[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Applied externally as a lotion or as a diluted essential oil (using an oil such as almond), it astringes varicose veins and haemorrhoids, tightening up the blood vessels[
254- Title
- The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chevallier. A.
- Publisher
- Dorling Kindersley. London
- Year
- 1996
- ISBN
- 9-780751-303148
- Description
- An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
]. A foot bath of the cones is used to cleanse the feet and counter excessive sweating[
254- Title
- The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chevallier. A.
- Publisher
- Dorling Kindersley. London
- Year
- 1996
- ISBN
- 9-780751-303148
- Description
- An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
]. The extracted essential oil should not be taken internally without professional guidance[
254- Title
- The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chevallier. A.
- Publisher
- Dorling Kindersley. London
- Year
- 1996
- ISBN
- 9-780751-303148
- Description
- An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
].
A resin is obtained from the tree by making incisions in the trunk[
7- Title
- Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chiej. R.
- Publisher
- MacDonald
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 0-356-10541-5
- Description
- Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.
]. This has a vulnerary action on slow-healing wounds and also encourages whitlows to come to a head[
7- Title
- Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chiej. R.
- Publisher
- MacDonald
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 0-356-10541-5
- Description
- Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.
].
An essential oil from the leaves and cones is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is 'Astringent'[
210- Title
- Aromatherapy - A guide for home use.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Westwood. C.
- Publisher
- Amberwood Publishing Ltd
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
- 0-9517723-0-9
- Description
- An excellent little pocket guide. Very concise.
].
Other Uses
An essential oil is distilled from the shoots. It is used in perfumery and soap making[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
,
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
61- Title
- A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Usher. G.
- Publisher
- Constable
- Year
- 1974
- ISBN
- 0094579202
- Description
- 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.
]. The leaves contain about 2% essential oil whilst the wood contains about 2.5%[
240- Title
- Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
- Publisher
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
].
An infusion of the wood is used in footbaths to combat perspiration of the feet[
7- Title
- Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chiej. R.
- Publisher
- MacDonald
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 0-356-10541-5
- Description
- Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.
].
Wood - fragrant, very hard and durable. A popular wood for building uses, cabinet making and wardrobes, especially since it retains its fragrance, repels moths and is impervious to woodworm[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
,
7- Title
- Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chiej. R.
- Publisher
- MacDonald
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 0-356-10541-5
- Description
- Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.
,
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
,
89- Title
- Flowers of the Mediterranean.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Polunin. O. and Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- Hogarth Press
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
- 0-7012-0784-1
- Description
- A very readable pocket flora that is well illustrated. Gives some information on plant uses.
].
Propagation
Seed - 30 days of stratification at 20 °c stimulated seed germination. The seed can store for several years[
113- Title
- The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W.
- Publisher
- Athens Ga. Varsity Press
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
- 0942375009
- Description
- A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.
].
Cuttings of almost ripe wood[
113- Title
- The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W.
- Publisher
- Athens Ga. Varsity Press
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
- 0942375009
- Description
- A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.
].
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