Lemon Cypress Tree Form Topiary

Lemon Cypress is hardy in the ground in USDA zones 7 to 10 and grows as a patio plant in zones 4 to 10, moved to shelter for winter in colder regions. Give it full sun for the richest gold color and plant it in light, well-draining soil. It dislikes soggy roots, so good drainage is essential whether in the ground or in a pot.

Planting

1. Choose a spot in full sun; too much shade dulls the gold foliage to a flat green.
2. Make sure the site or container drains freely. In pots, use a quality potting mix and a vessel with drainage holes.
3. Dig the hole twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper than the root ball is tall.
4. Set the plant so the root flare sits right at ground level. Do not bury the trunk or pile soil against it.
5. Backfill with native soil, firm gently, and water in deeply to settle out air pockets.
6. Apply two to three inches of mulch over the root zone, keeping it pulled back a few inches from the trunk. For a matched row or low screen, space plants about 1 to 1.5 feet apart, center to center, so the narrow forms grow into a continuous line.

Care & maintenance

• Water. Keep the soil evenly moist, never bone dry and never waterlogged, especially during the first one to two years and in any pot. Lemon Cypress is sensitive to drought and to drying winter wind, so water during dry fall and winter spells to prevent browning.
• Feed. Apply a light, slow-release evergreen or conifer fertilizer in early spring. Avoid heavy feeding, which can force weak growth.
• Light. Full sun gives the brightest lemon-gold color. Indoors or on a shaded patio, give it the brightest spot you have.
• Prune. Shear lightly and often to keep the topiary form crisp, trimming only the soft green outer growth. Like other needled cypress, it will not regrow from bare brown wood, so never cut back into leafless interior branches.
• Spacing. For a low matched row, set plants roughly 1 to 1.5 feet apart so the slim columns merge into a tidy line.
• Pests & disease. Watch for spider mites in hot, dry conditions (a fine stippling or webbing on foliage) and rinse the foliage to discourage them. The genus can also be affected by seiridium canker, which causes scattered dieback; prune out and dispose of any dead branches and avoid wounding the bark.
• Winter care. In zones 7 and colder, grow it in a container and move it to a cool, bright, sheltered spot for winter. In-ground plants in exposed sites benefit from protection from harsh, drying winter wind.

How big does Lemon Cypress get?

In its tree-form topiary, expect a mature height of about 2 to 4 feet and a width of just 1 to 2 feet. It grows at a moderate pace, so the slim, upright shape stays manageable for years in a bed or a pot.

Is it evergreen and does it keep its color all year?

Yes. Lemon Cypress holds its soft, needled foliage year-round, and the bright lemon-gold color stays vivid through every season, including winter, as long as it gets enough sun.

Does it need full sun or will it grow in shade?

It performs best in full sun, which keeps the foliage its brightest gold. In too much shade the color fades toward a flat green and growth becomes thin and leggy.

Why is my Lemon Cypress turning brown?

Browning is almost always a moisture or stress issue rather than a disease. The most common causes are:

• Drought stress. The roots dried out, even briefly. This plant is unforgiving of dry soil, especially in a pot.
• Winter or wind burn. Cold, drying wind pulls moisture from the foliage faster than the roots can replace it.
• Spider mites. Hot, dry conditions invite mites that cause a dull, stippled, fading look.

Important: needled cypress does not push new growth from bare brown branches, so trim out dead sections but do not expect them to releaf.

Can I grow it in a pot or indoors?

Yes. It is a popular patio and container plant and grows in pots in zones 4 to 10. Give it the sunniest spot available, water consistently, and never let it sit in a saucer of standing water. In cold climates, overwinter it in a cool, bright, sheltered location.

How do I keep its shape, and how much should I prune?

Light, regular shearing of the soft outer growth keeps the topiary form neat. Trim a little and often through the growing season rather than cutting hard once. Stay in the green growth at all times, because cutting into bare interior wood leaves permanent gaps that will not fill back in.