Leyland Cypress is a hybrid created between Cupressus macrocarpa and Chamaecyparis nootkatensis. I promise that’s the last botanical jargon I’ll use. 🙂
Here’s what you need to know about Leyland Cypress.
It’s basically a nice looking evergreen. It’s hardy to Zone 6, which is our zone here in NJ. Start heading north and Leyland’s hardiness gets marginal.
Planted in the right conditions (sunny with well-drained soil) this plant will grow like a weed.
In the top picture the Leyland Cypress are being trimmed. Quite the feat (and expense)!
I remember driving by this house when the landscape contractor was installing this “grouping” of Leyland and thinking to myself, “Does this landscaper and homeowner know what they’re getting into?”
I’ll bet that was 6 or 7 years ago and I remember the trees being about 10′ tall when installed.
I think you can see that these trees are now well over the 2nd story of this house – and that’s with being trimmed every year.
By the way, they are no where near maturity. In fact Leyland Cypress will easily get to 60 -70′.
In the picture above are Leylands that were planted a couple of years ago. Would you believe this house is right across the street from the house in the picture at the top?
And by the looks of it they’re not even trimming them.
It’s like I always say, “Know your plants” and “Use the right plant in the right place”.
Leyland is not necessarily a bad plant. It could have its use in a particular situation where you have tons of room and need a quick growing evergreen screen.
But here, in both these landscapes as corner groupings near the house?…not the best choice.