Cupressocyparis leylandii is a fast growing evergreen conifer prized for its dense feathery foliage and upright columnar habit. Often used for privacy screens and windbreaks, this hybrid cypress tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and responds well to shaping. Its soft blue green foliage remains vibrant year round making it a structural anchor in both formal and informal landscape designs.
Height & Spread: 30 - 50 ft x 8 - 12 ft
Bloom Time: Insignificant; grown for foliage
Light Requirements: Full sun
Soil Preference: Tolerates most well drained soils including clay and sand
Watering Needs: Moderate when young; drought tolerant once established
Deer Resistance: Moderately resistant due to aromatic foliage
Native Status
This plant is a cultivated hybrid between Cupressus macrocarpa and Chamaecyparis nootkatensis. It is not native to any single region but has naturalized in some areas due to widespread planting.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Birds
- Dense branching structure provides winter cover and nesting habitat for songbirds such as chickadees and sparrows.
Beneficial Insects
- Supports populations of predatory beetles and spiders that take shelter in the shaded lower limbs.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Space 5 - 8 ft apart for hedging or 10 - 15 ft apart for specimen use.
Landscape Placement:
- Ideal for screening, windbreaks, or as a bold vertical accent in large borders or perimeter plantings.
Companion Plants
- Rhododendron catawbiense 'Roseum Elegans' - Lavender pink blossoms and broad evergreen leaves provide contrast in both texture and height.
- Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Queen' - Oakleaf hydrangea with large white blooms and bold foliage complements the upright evergreen form.
- Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light' - Graceful silvery blades and plumes echo the fine texture of leyland cypress foliage.
- Spiraea japonica 'Little Princess' - Compact shrub with pink flowers and neat mounding form softens the base of leylandii hedges.
- Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote' - Low growing lavender adds fragrance and seasonal color at the base of tall conifers.