Lemon Cypress


lemon cypress

Lemon Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa var. goldcrest)

The lemon cypress is also known as lemon cedar (2) It is quite used for its yellowish-green color (5), and for its pleasant fragrance reminiscent of lemon, it is decorative and you can have both inside and outside the house (4). We refer here to the Cupressus macrocarpa var. goldcrest or lemon cypress, (3) to avoid confusion with the different names (1).

The scientific name of lemon cedar is Cupressus macrocarpa and the goldcrest variety is the most common. It is considered a conifer for having reproductive structures called cones that protect the seeds, similar to pine cones.

It is fast-growing, which can reach 6 meters (20 ft) in height.

Its foliage is yellowish-green and the scent of its leaves reminds of lemon.

It adapts to any climate, exposure, and substrate. In full sun as in semi-shade.

The lemon cedar, also called lemon cypress, Monterey cypress, goldcrest, and occasionally lemon pine, is an evergreen tree belonging to the conifers. The foliage of this tree has a yellowish-green hue and its leaves have a fragrance that recalls the smell of citrus fruits, particularly lemon.

It requires a large vase, pot, or container. It is easily obtained in almost all nurseries. They reproduce by seeds and by implants.

To maintain the tree in optimum conditions, a regular fertilizer with acidifying fertilizers is recommended. The lemon cedar is considered a hard and resistant plant but may be susceptible to certain pests, especially aphids, so some gardeners recommend seasonal fumigation as prevention, especially in spring.

USDA Zone For The Lemon Cypress

Lemon cypress thrives in USDA plant hardiness zones 7 through 10. These trees cannot survive shade. Therefore, you are required to plant your lemon cypress tree outdoors and exposed to sunlight.

Characteristics And Features

The lemon cypress tree can adapt to a wide range of soils and is exceptionally impenetrable to the wind. The foliage of this tree has a yellowish-green tone and its leaves have an aroma that highlights the smell of the characteristic elements of citrus, especially lemon. They are trees from 25 to 50 meters (82 to 164 ft) high.

This tree has a shape shaped like a cone and leaves with a particular yellowish-green hue. This is the most characteristic of the lemon cypress since the leaves produce the unmistakable smell of lemon. The lemon cypress has a pointed shape, its leaves are subtle and lasting yellowish-green and reproduce by grafting or seeds.

In addition, there is another difference in silver tone. They give off an aroma of citrus fruits, characteristic of lemon.

The leaves are created from a thin trunk of muted tones that has several breaks and wrinkles, with a limit of one meter. The branches from the bottom of the stem. They can grow up to 1.5 m.

However, this factor depends on your pruning. Its natural fruits blush when they are green, but when they mature they have a grayish tone. Like the plant itself, they have a conical shape. They measure 2.5 and 4 centimeters. These are protected with a kind of “scales”, as well as with some unique spines.

The scientific name of the lemon cypress tree is Cupressus Macrocarpa. By virtue of its striking appearance due to its shade and its citric scent reminiscent of lemon, it was named lemon cedar. This smell is generously detectable especially when cut. It is said that its origin begins from the southwestern United States, mainly from the region of California, which is considered the main producer of lemon.

Fortunately, they change according to several types of climates, anyway they develop much better in calm air where it is not cold or too hot. The soil in which it is planted must be moist and have good drainage is very important, specialists recommend that a mixture of soil and sand be made to plant it, since this has better filtration and, therefore, allows the water to stay accumulated.

It is recommended that they receive a little sun, this helps the shadow of their leaves is increasingly alive. However, it can also be kept in the shade, as we said before, acclimated to a wide range of conditions.

An ideal location to plant our lemon cypress tree outside is that it will not require much care when it comes to a mature plant, it just needs to be pruned from time to time to maintain its shape.

In order to keep the tree robust, it must be fertilized with an acidifier. Regardless of the way in which the lemon tree is a strong plant, it is not saved from the probability of having a couple of pests, so it is recommended to fumigate it to prevent the appearance of them.

This beautiful plant is impeccable when you have it in a pot, in case you choose it, guarantee to prune it most of the time, in order to give it the shape in which it can later maintain its size. The lemon tree is also used as a Christmas tree.

This tree is similar to the other pines, has a pointed shape, and a yellowish-green color similarly shaped like scales. Wood impregnated with a smell similar to that of cedar is not resinous and is used for firewood in carpentry, woodwork, crafts, paper production, construction, sculpture, and armor.

These trees grow more than others, everything depends on the ecosystem in which they grow.

lemon cypress
Cupressus macrocarpa var. Goldcrest

The Conifer Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Golden Crest’, is a plant native to North America: California of the usual height of 20 meters (66 ft). Its Latin name is Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Golden Crest’ and is a Conifer with a Columnar shape. The speed of growth of the Conifer is Fast. Used as protection against the wind. Also used as an ornamental conifer in parks and gardens.

  • It adapts to a wide range of climates although it prefers temperate ones.
  • For the lemon cypress, I prefer fertilizers that contain magnesium, in order to avoid dry leaves.
  • It is fine in full sun as in semi-shade, although its color will be more alive if it receives a daily average of five hours of direct sunlight.
  • If we have it inside our home (I do not recommend it), it should have humidity and avoid heating and place it in cooler rooms.
  • It needs moist soil with good drainage that allows the water to not stagnate.
  • It is very sensitive to overwatering.
  • We must fertilize it regularly with an acidifying fertilizer.
  • As for pruning, it may require an occasional to maintain its natural triangular shape, especially if it is in a pot. Decorative pruning is also frequent, in which different sculptural forms are given, what is called “topiary”.

The lemon cypress, called Monterrey cypress, lemon cedar, or lemon pine whose scientific name is Cupressus macrocarpa, is a tree that belongs to the group of conifers.

The scientific name of lemon cedar is Cupressus macrocarpa and the goldcrest combination is the one that is most widely perceived. It is seen as a conifer for having regenerative structures considered cones that guarantee seeds, similar to pine cones.

In planting circles, it is commonly known as Goldcrest, Monterey cypress, or California cypress. The yellowish-green shading, together with the citrus core of its leaves, whose smell is perceived especially when cut, gives rise to the change of its name to lemon pine.

This tree comes from the United States, mainly from California. It adapts well to a wide combination of airs but leans towards soft environments in which there is neither extreme heat nor cold. The ideal soil should be moist and particularly agitated, which is why several experts recommend planting it in a mixture of soil and sand to improve the waste and protect the water from stagnation around the roots.

The Cupressus macrocarpa, which is native to the southwestern United States, can reach a height of 30 meters. It is popularly known as Monterrey cypress, goldcrest, lemon pine, lemon cypress, or California cypress. Its size is more or less columnar, and its leaves are perennial, yellowish-green. The fruit is rounded, about 2-3cm in diameter, grayish when ripe.

Thanks to its striking appearance due to its color and its citrusy smell reminiscent of lemon, it received the name of lemon cypress or lemon cedar.

This smell is much more noticeable when it is cut.

It is said that its origin comes from the southwestern United States, mainly from the state of California, which is considered a main producer of lemon.

Fortunately, they adapt to many types of climates, but they develop much better in temperate climates where there is neither extreme cold nor heat.

The soil in which it is found should be moist and have good drainage, so many people who are specialists in this area recommend that a mixture of soil and sand be made to plant it, as this helps to have better drainage and in this way that the water is stagnant.

It is recommended that you expose it to sunlight, this helps the color of its leaves is much more alive, but if you want to have it in the shade you can also do it, as we said before it adapts to all kinds of environment.

One advantage of planting our lemon tree outdoors is that it will not need so much care, this possibility of little care increases when it is a mature plant because in this case you only need to prune it once in a while to maintain its shape.

Although the lemon tree is a strong plant is not saved from the possibility of having some pests, so it is recommended to spray every so often as prevention.

This ornamental plant is perfect to have it in a pot, I would prefer a large container for it. If you decide that this is so to make sure to prune more often because this way we can maintain its size and shape that is appropriate for the place where we put it.

You should also return occasional decorative pruning, this is done in order to give different shapes to the tree.

If the lemon tree is not pruned it is possible that it can measure about 3 meters even if it is in a pot.

The lemon tree is also used to replace the typical Christmas tree, although its leaves, because they are so fragile, can not stand the ornaments and lights that are too heavy.

Its growth rate is medium-fast, which means that it can grow about 30cm / year on average, which is not bad at all.

The lemon cedar, also called lemon cypress, Monterey cypress, goldcrest, and sometimes lemon pine is an evergreen tree of the coniferous group. The foliage of this tree has a yellowish-green color and its leaves have a fragrance reminiscent of the aroma of citrus fruits, especially lemon.

It is utilized for its appearance and aroma as a decorative plant both indoors and outdoors, requires little care, and adapts to a wide range of climates.

lemon cypress
Cupressus macrocarpa var. Goldcrest

In gardening circles, it is usually known as Goldcrest, Monterey (or Monterrey, as in Spanish) cypress or California cypress. The yellowish-green color, together with the citrus essence of its leaves, especially when cut, gave rise to its common name of lemon cedar.

The species Cupressus macrocarpa is native to the southwestern US, as we explained already. It adapts well to a wide variety of climates but prefers temperate climates in which there is neither extreme heat nor cold.

The ideal soil should be moist and well-drained, which is why it is recommended to plant it in a mixture of soil and sand to improve drainage and prevent water from stagnating around the roots.

Scientific name

Scientific name: Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Goldcrest’.

Familia: Cupressaceae

Genus: Cupressus

Category: trees, outdoor and indoor plants

Upper classification: Cupressus macrocarpa

Species: C. Macrocarpa

Common name: lemon cedar, lemon cypress, cypress Monterrey, goldcrest.

Size: In a pot usually does not reach more than 3 meters in height. Its size is largely depending on the container.

Foliage: perennial (does not lose its leaves throughout the year)

The botanical nomenclature of the Gold Crest cypress is Cupressus macrocarpa, commonly called Monterey cypress, California cypress, lemon cypress, yellow cypress, lemon cedar … These last common names refer to its intense yellow-green foliage and its strong smell lemon when we caress their branches or they are shaken by the wind.

It is a very versatile and decorative plant when decorating our gardens, patios, halls, terraces, and even the interior of our homes as long as it has enough light and freshness.

Environment For The Lemon Cypress

It can be planted both in full sun and in shade, however, this variety of pine is often used to design gardens also very well in the interior of the home in a vase. They can be used in patios, terraces, or balconies.

Lemon pine, lemon cypress, or lemon cedar (Cupressus macrocarpa var. Goldcrest) is a particularly magnificent spruce that stands out among its species due to the brightness of its green-yellow tint and the aroma of its foliage and trunk.

It is a plant, which needs abundant light, has exceptional resistance to any type of soil, from alkaline to acid, so it can be sown in any type of climate. Its leaves, with a scale of yellowish-green color, emanate a smell of lemon. It is a plant that receives pruning without problems.

lemon cypress in pots
SEVERAL LEMON CYPRESS SPECIMEN IN POTS

It is essential to water the plant frequently to keep the soil constantly wet but never sprayed. In climates of hot and dry situations, young lemon-pine plants should be watered every day. Older plants do not require irrigation every day, as long as the soil remains wet.

In general, it is used as an indoor plant, in which case it is recommended to use a leaking base containing peat to prevent spotting. In case of treatment, do it only twice a year: at harvest time and in spring.

Cedar or lemon pine is a conifer plant represented by its yellowish-green shading and its irrefutable lemon smell. It is a variety of Monterey Cypress or “lemon holder” that begins in the Bay of Monterrey, in the State of California.

It has a conical shape, its shading is bright yellow and smells like lemon in its leaves. It is a tree that can reach two and a half meters in height, is created in a wide range of soils, and is very resistant to wind.

The lemon cypress tree is named after the strong lemon fragrance that is perceived when someone brushes the leaves or crushes the foliage. This coniferous is durable and can be grown both inside and outside, can reach a height of five meters high, the maximum height of a dwarf lemon pine is usually one meter.

This tree is planted for decorative uses, for its attractive color and its elasticity to cut to give decorative shapes, so it is widely used in parks and gardens around the world.  In addition, it is used for embellishment as an improvement of the landscape.

Given its adaptability, needs, appearance, and smell, lemon cedar is an excellent decorative plant to grow in a pot.

Both outdoors and indoors, lemon cedar in a pot must be pruned regularly to maintain the height and size of the plant suitable for the place and pot used.

Some people use lemon cedar as an alternative to the traditional Christmas tree, taking advantage of its fragrance and color. But the leaves of the lemon cedar are soft and fragile and can not withstand the weight of heavy ornaments.

Some varieties of lemon cedar have leaves with a silver-tone instead of the typical yellow. There are also varieties that do not grow much.

Planting And Cultivation

For the cultivation of this plant, compliance with the following conditions must be taken into account:

  1. The requirement of light: it must be in a place where it receives enough sunlight.
  2. The temperature: this plant develops well in cool and sunny areas. The ideal temperature to grow an outdoor cypress tree is around 20 degrees C.
  3. Soil preference: The soil may be sandy, loamy, or calcareous. It can even grow in clay. While it can grow on all types of soil, it will not survive if the soil is not well moist
  4. Irrigation: While the soil must be moist, it should not be submerged in water. During the first growing period, the plant should be watered several times each week. You can test the soil with a stick or a skewer to see if, under the ground, the soil is dry, wet or damp.
  5. Fertilizers: slow-release organic fertilizer that has an equal amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium once a month.
  6. Pruning: in case this plant is used as a fence, you should prune it routinely. It must be cut to maintain the required height. Use sharp pruning shears to expel the branches that are forming outside the base or making it difficult to access the tree.

Its fruits are similar to pineapples, and when they are green they are reddish, when they grow they obtain a gray color, the trunk is brown color, approximately half a meter of the contour is assiduously corrugated during their youth, grows at least an annual approximation of 1,5 meters high. After 40 years reaches a size at 30 meters, there are even trees that measure 50 meters, there are also dwarves this is due to the ecosystem where they are sown.

Care Of The Lemon Cypress

When it is planted outdoors, the lemon cypress needs very little care, especially when it is a mature plant that may require only occasional pruning to help maintain its natural triangular shape.

The care for this plant should be made according to the following recommendations to ensure optimal development.

  • Lighting: you need to be in full with the sunlight as long as possible. As we said for other plants, for example, succulents, it is good to receive sunlight, but not too much, as this can cause it to dry and it is not what we want.
  • Location: must be outdoors, ideally in full sunlight. It does not adapt to living indoors.
  • Temperature: it resists cold temperatures as well as hot temperatures.
  • Irrigation: About 2 or 3 times a week in summer, a little less the rest of the year. it depends on the time of year, in summer very often so that it always stays humid, in the dry seasons spray to keep the substrate moist.
  • Fertilizer: Granulated fertilizers are recommended. Throughout the growing season (from spring to summer) with homemade fertilizers. On the other hand, if we observe that the ends or tips of the leaves of the yellow cypress are dried, it can be derived due to a lack of magnesium. In this case, it can be corrected with a specific fertilizer for it.
  • Pruning: in the fall to prune the biggest branches, this makes the leaves more abundant and short.
  • The fertilizers must contain:
    • Phosphorus
    • Iron
    • Organic fertilizers
    • Ammonia nitrate
    • Lime nitrate
    • Zinc
    • Potassium

Soil and substrate :

      • Garden: grows on all types of soil, so it is not demanding.
      • Flowerpot: fill it with a mixture of mulch, perlite, and expanded clay aggregate (LECA) in equal parts. 
      • Propagation: by seeds in spring.
      • Resilience: resistant to frost up to -10ºC.

The best time to fertilize our lemon cypress tree is when we are entering the hot season, which is spring and summer. From that moment we will treat it with calcium and potassium.

It does not need much care, just keep the soil moist, prevent the tree from drying out and the leaves falling, the lemon cedar does not require much pruning just to keep it in proper shape. The fundamental thing is to cut it with the objective that it maintains its triangle shape, from time to time to fertilize it with acidifiers to invigorate the soil and help the growth of the plant

It is also very important to keep the soil moist if it is on the ground, or if it is in a pot, place a dish with water under it to avoid overwatering and reject damp foliage. During the cold climates that are characteristic of December in some areas is when you can hit more pine or a lemon cedar, as its branches are sensitive.

That is the reason why it is better to choose another type of pine to be used for Christmas reasons since this type of decorations hung on their weak branches causes them to split. It is very helpful to get sunlight, but not too much as this can cause it to dry and that is not what we want, it is recommended to place it in a place where you can receive the sun around 5 hours of each day. To encourage their improvement, cut their dry branches.

If you notice that the pine is drying up, it can be due to many reasons, including lack of irrigation, lack of any nutrient, or being attacked by some type of fungus.

Frequent Problems In The Lemon Cypress

  1. a) Yellow leaves, these happen for lack of nutrients or for watering the plant a lot.
  2. b) Leaves without color, this happens due to a lack of light.
  3. c) No growth, maybe because they are planted in very small pots.

Diseases And Pests That Can Affect The Lemon Cypress

They are very delicate for some fungi and pests, especially aphids when they irrigate a lot they produce a fungus called Phytophthora, it is a kind of alga that destroys the pine root and completely covers the stem. The main problems that appear are mites.

The lemon cypress tree is considered a hard and safe plant, however, it can be very weak with the aphids, so normal fumigation is recommended as a neutralizing activity, especially in the spring.

It is attractive to several fungi and pests, mainly to the aphids, they look for ways to dry themselves due to lack of magnesium, it is indispensable to fumigate with insecticides to avoid that they end up with the plant.

The lemon cypress tree can be a victim of a disease known as defenseless cypress if it is grown in a hot and dry area. On the other hand, when it grows outside, it has a tendency to suffer from aphid infiltration, which can cause great damage. In this sense, measures must be taken to control the infiltration in the hidden stages.

It is a low maintenance plant especially when it is sown in the interiors, if it is sown in pots it is necessary to make sure to change them every two years and that they are getting bigger and always water the soil so that it is humid.

Also if we water it too much, there will be roots that become rot due to the excess of watering.

If we see that the tips dry out, it is very likely due to a lack of Magnesium, so we should pay special attention to the fertilizer and choose one that contains Magnesium.

lemon cypress lack of magnesium
WE SHOULD BE ADDING MAGNESIUM TO THIS LEMON CYPRESS

The most common diseases that usually attack the lemon pine are the following:

  1. Alternaria:  This disease is caused by the Alternaria parasite. This disease is characterized because it begins to affect little by little the leaves and the stem until the point in which it is completely dry, this fungus reproduces quickly so it must be careful with the continuous irrigations.
  2. Sadness virus: This is the most dangerous, is able to travel and end the life of the tree, in issues of weeks and even months, one of the symptoms is flowering out of season, this virus has no cure.
  3. Exocortis:  This attacks the bark causing cracks and scales to appear, yellow and green spots appear, this virus does not have any kind of cure.
  4. Psoriasis:  This disease tends to cause apparitions of scales on the branches and rarely appear in the bark of the tree.

How to know if the lemon cypress tree is sick?

  • The tree begins to dry.
  • It grows in poor condition.
  • It is dying slowly.
  • Fungi appear
  • The appearance of brown spots.
  • White balls on the inside.
  • Yellow and dry leaves.
  • Black spots on the leaves.
  • It dries half up.
sick lemon cypress tree
This is a specimen that exhibits the characteristics of a sick lemon cypress tree, so it is recommended to fumigate them every so often

In this section we describe in detail the botanical pests that tend to affect plant species such as lemon cypress more frequently, information that will be very useful when identifying them to provide timely and adequate treatment to the plant if required:

The Gold Crest Cypress is considered a fairly resistant plant, although it may be susceptible to certain pests, especially aphids, so we recommend preventive fumigation, especially in spring.

  • Mining bugs:  It is quite possible that our lemon tree begins to indicate problems by a mining bug, these small terrifying creatures fundamentally attack the fresh leaves in a progressive way that starts to appear holes in the leaves, causing them to begin to wrinkle and show brown spots, to the point where they dry out in an absolutely stunning way and die.
  • Aphids:  extremely small insects appear in the shoots of the plant. Due to these terrible creatures, the lemon cypress tree can not continue to develop new leaves and the fruits begin to indicate disfigurements, which suggests that they can not be consumed.
  • Cochineal cotton:  This plague appears in summer, likes high temperatures, live in the leaves and stems.
  • Red spider:  It is a very small mite, red, mostly appears in summer, this produces spider webs that she uses to move from one leaf to another, is a non-dangerous pest but the same affects the plant, feeds on the cells.

Pruning The Lemon Cypress

One of the most important care of the yellow cypress is the impingement through trimming. The lemon cypress has such a rapid growth that it is mandatory to perform a periodic impingement for its correct growth and to achieve densification of its foliage and compact it. If we perform a correct trimming, we can even have this type of cypress in the shape of a ball or any other sculptural form.

When it comes to pruning the lemon cypress, it is necessary to take into account some recommendations such as the following:

  • It is pruned occasionally since the plant has a natural triangle shape.
  • The best season to prune this tree is at the end of winter.
  • Do not prune in times of rain and snow, this prevents fungi and insects from appearing.
  • You should start pruning at the bottom and then towards the top.
  • We remove the dry branches and those that are born in the lower part of the trunk
  • Remove the branches a little so that sunlight reaches the lowest part
  • Make a cut in an angle.
  • Prune it when it is six years old.

The best pruning is that which occurs in two-thirds of the height of the trunk, in this way it gives an open and deep space. Lemon cypress or lemon pine can be cut in several ways. One of the most precise cuts is the spiral shape.

lemon cypress in a nursery
LEMON CYPRESS IN A NEARBY NURSERY

Irrigation And Overwatering

In addition to the tips we have given you, it is also important to remember to keep the soil moist, even if you have the pine in a pot.

In fact, there is a way to keep the soil moist in a pot and is to place a dish under the pot, this dish should have water.

This is done to keep the soil moist without having to water too much and not damage the foliage.

So, we can define for watering the lemon cypress, that it is recommended to water very little, the important thing is to keep the soil moist. There is a way to keep the soil moist in pots that consists of placing a dish under the pot, this dish must have water to always provide moisture to the soil. This is similar that we have suggested sometimes for succulents too.

When it is watered too much, overwatering, the cypresses produce a fungus that is a kind of algae that affects the pine root and completely covers the stem.

Furthermore, you have to be especially careful with overwatering. If we irrigate too much the yellow cypress, the roots can rot.

lemon cypress leaves
LEMON CYPRESS LEAVES

Lemon Cypress Drying Out: Lack Of Nutrients Or Water

Our lemon cypress can be drying for many reasons, one of them is for lack of irrigation, and the other reason is the lack of nutrients. Remember that irrigation must be followed but without abusing the water because it may not drain and cause this type of problem.

Another reason for having a lemon cypress drying out is that you may have a lack of some nutrients, to solve this you should only use fertilizer every time you water it and you will see that it will change little by little.

Make sure that this fertilizer is specialized and that it is rich in all the nutrients that your lemon pine surely lacks.

If we observe that the ends or tips of the leaves of the lemon cypress are dried, it can be derived due to a lack of magnesium. In this case, it can be corrected with a specific fertilizer for it.

Substrate And Soil for Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Golden Crest’

Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Golden Crest’ works very well on most of the particular substrates that we can find now we show you the substrates that are most suitable for her.
The plant is suitable for nutrient-poor soils, or those that do not have the essential nutrients.

Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Golden Crest’ is correct to be used in sandy soils. Sandy substrates tend to have a high amount of sand in their mix and this type of soil does not conserve water, so it tends to be very difficult to grow plants in them and requires greater caution and a greater frequency of watering but on the other hand, plants that require little humidity will adapt really well.

Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Golden Crest’ is correct to be used in dry soils. Dry soils are those that are arid and that have actually little aptitude to maintain the water usually receive a little amount of water however in the case of receiving extraordinary water quickly rebounds life in it with speed.

This plant is suitable for use on wet substrates. Wet substrates are those that always contain a state of humidity because there are sources of water in the vicinity or because the drainage in them is difficult. Many plants are not suitable for not being able to withstand excess moisture, so not all plants are suitable for this kind of substrates.

The fertile land is one that is properly fertilized and has a high richness of nutrients very varied this type of substrates tend to be excellent for most plants, although some of them are used to more arid soils.

This plant is fine in substrates with silicon as well. The silicon soil is one that is composed of a medium or high silicon content. This type of bluish minerals is very hard and has a high pH, ​​they are alkaline and it is usually difficult to grow plants in this type of soil.

This plant is suitable also for heavy substrates. The clayey soil or heavy soil is a robust substrate with porosities that is very difficult to grow and widens and contracts in the changes of temperature cracks and cracks and prevents the roots to grow in a normal way that is why it is a complicated soil to work with.

Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Golden Crest’ is suitable for planting in acid substrates. Acid substrates are those that have a pH below 5.5 a very acid soil is also difficult to grow and most species do not resist it however there are some species that require this class of substrates. This kind of soil is often scarce in certain elements such as boron.

This conifer is also suitable for neutral soils. A neutral substrate is one that has neither high nor low pH has an average pH and is the one that is commonly found in most soils that are sold in stores and frequents having a high abundance of all kinds of nutrients.

Lemon cypress can also be planted in humic soils. Humic soils contain minerals that come from coal and that can increase the retention of water and nutrients tend to contribute to certain species to increase growth and increase soil permeability.

Also, permeable soils are suitable for the lemon cypress. Permeable soils are those that accept water filtration. This kind of substrates is suitable for many of the plants because it maintains water.

This plant can be correctly planted on fresh substrates. Fresh soils are usually nutritious and usually have inside pine bark that helps the roots to form because it has been a very fibrous soil and also absorbs water pH is also neutral and has a normally low cost so it is a type of very correct soil.

Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Golden Crest’ is suitable for use in deep soils. Deep soils are those that are usually found in deeper areas of the earth, some species need substrates.

The plant is suitable for use on basic substrates too. The basic soil is one of the most used substrates in the cultivation of ornamental species because they allow us, with a very economic cost, to have most of the advantages necessary for the breeding of the most common species in domestic use.

You should be careful with the proportion of water you use to irrigate the lemon cypress tree, since an excess of irrigation, overwatering, can be very threatening for the development of this conifer.

We recommend that even in certain occasions that you know that the water may not drain so easily either because it is a rainy day or because there is a lot of humidity in the environment, utilize less quantity of water to avoid the accumulation of standing water.

Sunlight Exposition

It can be both in full sun and in shade but the color is more alive if it receives an average of five hours of direct sunlight a day.

This conifer should not be exposed in the direct sun at noon, so we suggest you try to avoid exposure to the direct sun more than anything at times when the sun hits directly with high intensity. The aforementioned five hours of sunlight per day is a very reasonable exposure.

lemon cypress in different pots
lemon cypress in different pots

How Are The Roots Of Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Golden Crest’?

The plant develops very powerful roots that is why it is important to emphasize that it is necessary to go with caution in the substrate in which it is planted since it could reach to raise the substrate or invade the space of nearby species at the time of removal can cause an inconvenience the number of roots it makes.

This is the reason why above we have recommended the utilization of large containers for the lemon cypress.

Suitability For Interiors

This plant is not suitable to be inside a house. Therefore, you should only plant it on terraces or gardens that enjoy at least five hours of exposition to sunlight per day.

 Suitability In Low Temperatures

This plant adequately resists low temperatures of up to -12ºC (10° F), making it perfect for very cold climates.

 Height Of A Lemon Cypress

A lemon pine cedar develops depending on what it is used for.

Several people need to have it in pots and not let them grow too much, so they are usually pruned to maintain their small size;

On the other hand, there are times when they plant it directly on the ground.

In this case, it can measure up to one and a half meters in size, which is normal.

In any case, from that moment on, it seems to have no restrictions.

If the cedar or lemon cypress tree is not pruned, it can grow up to 30 m in height.

Independently, in wild regions, it is prepared to reach 50 m.

The lemon cypress is one of those conifers that look so good in any garden and is so easy to take care of that many of us are encouraged to acquire one. However, problems can appear quickly when our beloved specimen receives more water than it needs, or is placed in a place that is not the most appropriate.

Varieties Of Lemon Cypress

In this section we will present information about several species of pine, including characteristic details that make them distinguishable from each other and important data for their care:

Dwarf pine

They can be planted in small pots, its height is 1.5m, it needs the sun all day, it supports all types of temperatures, it is recommended to water it in summer, it does not need much fertilizer and the branches are pruned big.

Pine Sylvestris

It is very dense so they use it a lot like a Christmas tree, care is necessary so that it does not develop in a disorderly way, it is necessary to carry the sun’s rays, to retain the moisture, add a little mulch, water them in the summertime, fertilize it with granulated fertilizers, cut the dry branches.

Stone pine

This has the right trunk and very strong, its crest is different from the other pines to have the flat glass. It has to be exposed to the sun, supports high temperatures and resists cold, watering very little and leaving a good drain, does not need much care since these are in parks and gardens, you do not need pruning here.

Lemon Pine

It is very decorative, it has a conical shape and a yellowish ramada with an excellent lemon aroma, this has to be exposed to sunlight, supports any type of climate and has good resistance to strong winds, does not need a special fertilizer anymore that adapts to any soil, cutting the branches makes the tree grow faster.

Norfolk Pine

It does not grow much, so it can be kept inside the house easily. This tree is always kept close to the windows, with a cool temperature, it is kept with the humid earth, it is paid monthly and the dry branches are removed with great care preferably using scissors from gardening.

Don Burke

I am Don Burke, one of the authors at My Garden Guide.  I am a horticulturist that cultivates, grows, and cares for plants, ranging from shrubs and fruits to flowers. I do it in my own garden and in my nursery. I show you how to take care of your garden and how to perform garden landscaping in an easy way, step by step.I am originally from Sydney and I wrote in local magazines. Later on, I have decided, more than two decades ago, to create my own blog. My area of specialization is related to orchid care, succulent care, and the study of the substrate and the soil. Therefore, you will see many articles dedicated to these disciplines. I also provide advice about how to improve the landscape design of your garden.

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