Lemon cypress

Lemon Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa 'Lemon Scent') is the chartreuse conifer that smells of lemon rind every time you brush past it. It grows to about 4m tall but only 1.5m wide, so it delivers height where there is no room to spare, and the bright yellow green foliage lifts a dark corner without a single flower. Clipped, it holds a cone for years. Left alone, it makes a narrow column.

Why you'll love it

• The scent is the whole point. Crush a sprig and the citrus oil is immediate. Plant it where people walk past, not at the back of a bed.
• Tall and narrow. About 4m of height on a 1.5m footprint, the shape that fits beside a path, a gate or a narrow side return.
• Genuinely cold hardy. Frost hardy and comfortable in cool temperate gardens, so southern and tableland gardeners can plant it in the ground with no fuss.
• Clips into any shape. Dense fine foliage takes shaping well, which is why it is a standard choice for cones and matched pairs in pots.
• Handles wind and salt. Wind, salt and drought tolerant once established.

Where it works best

Pots, balconies and courtyards. A matched pair either side of a door in 400mm pots gives instant formality, and the narrow habit never crowds a small paved area.

Topiary and feature planting. One plant makes a strong vertical accent above low mounding shrubs. Two trims a year hold whatever shape you set.

Narrow screens. Plant 1m apart for a slim screen. It holds a soft column of colour in a strip too tight for anything wider.

Growing Lemon Cypress in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, and be honest with yourself about it. In shade the foliage fades to dull green and the plant opens up. This is a conifer for warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens. It dislikes tropical humidity, so gardeners in the far north should choose something else.

Soil. Sharp drainage matters more than fertility. On clay, plant on a raised mound with coarse compost and gravel worked through.

Water and feed. Water twice a week for the first summer, then only in extended dry weather. The fastest way to kill one is a pot that never dries out. Slow release fertiliser in early spring is enough.

Pruning. Trim lightly in spring and again in late summer, staying in the green growth. It will not reshoot from bare brown wood, so a shape left to run wild cannot be cut back hard.

What to expect when it arrives

Lemon Cypress is grown in tube stock packs and in 250mm pots. The tube stock is the value option for a run of plants or for topiary you intend to train yourself. The 250mm size arrives already carrying a conical shape and usable height.

Conifers travel well because the foliage does not wilt. Plants are packed upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full conifer range
• More fragrant plants for paths and doorways
• Find a pot to match
• Planting ideas for small courtyards

Common questions

Why has my Lemon Cypress gone brown?

Almost always water, at one extreme or the other. In a pot it is usually a mix that stays wet and rots the roots. In the ground it is usually a plant that dried out while establishing. Brown foliage does not green up again.

Can I keep it small in a pot?

Yes. In a 300mm to 400mm pot, with two trims a year, it holds at around 1m to 1.5m indefinitely, well short of the 4m it reaches in open ground.

Will it grow in a humid tropical garden?

No. It comes from a cool coastal climate, and sustained warm humidity brings on root and foliage problems. Warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens suit it best.

Is it a real lemon plant?

No. The scent comes from oil in the foliage, not from fruit, and nothing on the plant is edible.