CUPRESSUS. Cypress. A small group of conifers, scattered widely around the Northern Hemisphere, largely in mountainous regions. They range from large shrubs to trees over 100' high, variously shaped but usually closely branched. Their bark is sometimes colorful and usually flaky or shredding. The twigs of the new growth are slender and cylindrical to flattened, with neat rows of tiny, pointed scales, often flecked with resin. The cones are round to oval, often remaining closed for several years. Sun, reasonably well drained soil, moderate to occasional watering (several are notably drought tolerant when established). Their hardiness varies.

macnabiana. MacNab cypress. This northern California native inhabits some of our most desolate spots outside the deserts. It may be seen as a tortured 6-10' shrub, or as a well-formed tree up to 50' high. The plants from which this material was taken were beautiful broad, dense pyramids in the 20-30' range. The stems and foliage are quite grey, heavily flecked with white bits of resin and spicily aromatic. The cones are often reddish brown and decorative. This is one of the most rugged conifers in California, yet adaptable to ordinary landscapes. Hardy to 0-10^oF.

macrocarpa. Monterey cypress. Seen in its natural setting along California's central coast, this is a dark, wind-sculptured mass with picturesque contorted trunks. Released from the torturing elements, it can become a gigantic tree, sometimes outgrowing its roots and toppling in most undignified fashion. It is basically pyramidal in form, with long "arms" of side branches. The foliage is bright green on young trees, darkening as they mature. The cones are decorative, if they can be seen among the foliage mass. 'Citriodora', received from friend Arie Lerner, is a compact and relatively slow-growing cultivar with brilliant yellow new growth, changing over the course of its first year to deep green, giving a nicely bicolored effect. It is also quite noticeably fragrant, as the name suggests. 'Saligna Aurea', received from Duncan & Davies in New Zealand, is challenging even to describe. The main trunk grows generally upright, but the side branches and long branchlets weep in irregular patterns like some of the pendulous cedars. Added to this is the bright golden color of all but the oldest shoots, usually hidden well inside the gold. It is a spectacular front-yard and container specimen.

All forms of Monterey cypress are at their best close to the coast, where summers are cool. They are prone to some root rots and disfiguring foliar diseases and pests in the hotter interior. All should be hardy to around 10^oF.