Leaf
Sandra CLAVIER, Tela Botanica · CC BY-SA 2.0
Italian cypress
Cupressus sempervirens L.
Also known as: Mediterranean cypress, Funeral cypress
Family: Cupressaceae
15 to 25 m tall
Widely planted in Provence, windbreak hedges
Flowering: March – April
Full sun
-20°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Narrow, upright, flame-shaped silhouette, emblematic of Provençal landscapes. The Monterey cypress has a broader, conical outline with light green to golden foliage, whereas the Italian cypress is recognised by its narrow flame-shaped outline and dark green foliage.
🍃 Leaves
Tiny dark green scales pressed tightly on fine shoots
🌸 Flowers
Small yellowish male cones at the tips of the shoots
🍎 Fruits
Small round woody cones, grey-brown
🪵 Bark
Grey-brown, finely fibrous
🗺️ Distribution
Eastern Mediterranean basin; widely planted in southern France since antiquity
🐝 Value for pollinators
Wind-pollinated, of little interest to pollinators
✂️ Horticultural uses
Planted as a windbreak hedge, in rows or as a specimen for its columnar habit, characteristic of the Mediterranean landscape
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No known toxicity; allergenic pollen
⚠️ Look-alike species
Italian cypress
Cupressus sempervirens
Monterey cypress
Cupressus macrocarpa
The Monterey cypress has a broader, conical outline with light green to golden foliage, whereas the Italian cypress is recognised by its narrow flame-shaped outline and dark green foliage.
🌿 Other Cupressaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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