20 Different Types of Cypress Trees

The cypress tree is a species of coniferous tree that is native to North America. There are many types of cypress trees, each with unique characteristics. Their needle-like leaves and cone-shaped fruits characterize the trees. Not only are these trees beautiful, but they are also known for being resistant to rot and decay. Many landscaping professionals use cypress trees in their designs because of these properties.

1. Bald Cypress

The bald cypress is a deciduous tree that grows to a height of 50-70 feet, and the bald cypress is also the state tree of Louisiana. These thrive in swamps and bogs in the southeastern United States. Its pyramid-shaped crown and reddish-brown bark characterize it. In the fall, the leaves turn yellow or copper-red. The cones are oval-shaped and brown. Its name comes from the tree’s appearance during the fall when it loses its needles and looks ‘bald.’

2. Monterey Cypress

The Monterey cypress is a medium-sized evergreen tree that grows to 130 feet. In excellent growing conditions, the truck can span over eight feet in width. They thrive in coastal areas of Central and Southern California. It’s characterized by its oblong-shaped crown and bright green leaves that provide a strong citrus aroma when crushed. The cones grow in clumps, are small and oval-shaped, and the bark is scaly. The statuesque tree produces tiny bright male flowers at its tips.

3. Mediterranean Cypress

The Mediterranean cypress is an evergreen tree that grows to about 60 feet. These grow in the Mediterranean region and in some cooler regions of the British Isles, New Zealand, and North America. The Mediterranean thrives in full sun with well-drained soil. It’s also known as the Tuscan cypress, Persian cypress, pencil pine, and Italian cypress. Its most distinguishing feature is its long, slender trunk. The leaves are dark green with rounded shoots, and the cones are small and oval-shaped.

4. Pond Cypress

The pond cypress is a deciduous tree that grows to 60 feet. These flourish in swamps and bogs throughout the southeastern United States and are native to Florida. They grow in blackwater habitats and can tolerate brackish water. Its pyramid-shaped crown and knobby knees characterize the pond cypress. The knees are pneumatophores, root-like structures that grow from the ground and help the tree breathe in wet conditions. In the fall, the leaves turn yellow, golden brown, and orange. The cones are small and oval-shaped. Despite growing in water, the pond cypress is drought-tolerant.

5. Arizona Cypress

The Arizona cypress is an evergreen tree that grows to 40-50 feet. These grow at a moderate pace of one to two feet per year in the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America. Its pyramid-shaped crown and blue-green leaves characterize it.

The cones are small and oval-shaped, and the bark is scaly and red-brown. Landscapers also refer to the Arizona cypress as the blue cypress, mountain cypress, and rock cypress. We often use these for Christmas trees because of their ability to keep their needles.

6. Hinoki Cypress

The Hinoki cypress is an evergreen tree with over 200 cultivars that vary from 12 inches to over 130 feet. A hedge version of this tree only grows to about three feet and is popular for landscaping. These are native to Japan and thrive in cool, moist environments. It’s characterized by its dense, pyramidal crown and dark green leaves. The cones are small and oval-shaped, and the bark is reddish brown and scaly. It’s also known as the false cypress, Japanese cypress, and hinok.

7. Nootka Cypress

The Nootka cypress or Alaskan weeping cypress, is an evergreen tree that grows to 90 feet in its natural habitat. Its dense, pyramidal crown and dark green leaves characterized this tree. The cones are small and oval-shaped, with scaly red-brown bark.

It’s also called the yellow cedar and Alaska cedar. These are found in the coastal areas of British Columbia and parts of the Pacific Northwest. They thrive in full sun to part shade and grow in moist, well-drained soil. Landscapers use Nootka cypress for hedges, topiary, and windbreaks.

8. Leyland Cypress

The Leyland cypress is a fast-growing evergreen tree that grows to 60 feet and has an average lifespan of 10-25 years. Landscapers love to use it because it grows between two to three feet every year. You can find these in the southern United States, and their rapid growth makes them popular for use as a hedge or screen. It’s characterized by its dense, pyramidal crown and dark green leaves. The cones are dark, small, and oval-shaped, and the bark is scaly and red-brown. People also refer to the Leyland cypress as the Carolina and Georgia cypress.

9. Chinese Weeping Cypress

The Chinese weeping cypress is an evergreen tree that grows to 20-40 feet. These are native to China and thrive in cool, moist environments. It’s characterized by its weeping branches and dark green leaves. The cones are small and oval-shaped, and the bark is reddish-brown. The Chinese weeping cypress is the Peking cypress and the Pei Lan.

10. Lawson False Cypress

The Lawson false cypress is an evergreen tree that grows to 200 feet in perfect conditions without interference. These are found in the northwestern United States and parts of Canada. It’s characterized by its dense, pyramidal crown and dark green leaves. When you crush the flat, spray-like leaves, they release a parsley scent.

People often mistake the Lawson False cypress for the Western Red Cedar, but the cones are distinctly different. The cones are small and oval-shaped, and the bark is scaly and reddish-brown. The Lawson false cypress is also known as the Port Orford cedar and the white cedar.

11. Macnab Cypress

The Macnab cypress is a shrubby tree that grows to an average of nine feet. These grow in the northwestern United States and parts of Canada. Its dense, pyramidal crowns are wide, and it sports dark, feathery green leaves that are well-known and excellent for forestry.

The cones are small and oval-shaped, and the bark is scaly with a reddish-brown hue. Another name for the Macnab cypress is the Shasta cypress. It’s an excellent option for privacy fencing, but the roots can grow deep and damage piping.

12. Gowen Cypress

The Gowen cypress is an evergreen tree that grows an average of 33 feet but can hit 165 feet when all the growing conditions are right. They grow slowly, so landscapers can plant them in a backyard and not worry about them interfering with the natural growth. These are rare cypress trees, and they only grow in two areas on the Monterey Peninsula naturally.

It’s characterized by its dense, pyramidal crown and dark green leaves. The cones are small and oval-shaped, and the bark is scaly and reddish-brown. It’s also known as the western white cedar and the mountain cedar. The Gowen is often compared to the Arizona cypress because of its height and shade coverage.

13. Tibetan Cypress

The Tibetan cypress is an evergreen tree that grows an average of 80-160 feet. They are found in the Himalayas and can be used for construction. It’s characterized by its dense, conical crown and dark green leaves. The cones are small and oval-shaped, and the bark is scaly and reddish-brown that’s beautiful in any landscape setting. The Tibetan cypress is a subspecies of the Himalayan cypress.

14. Tecate Cypress

The Tecate cypress is an evergreen tree that grows to 40-60 feet with an average height of 33 feet and width of 25 feet. These are found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It’s characterized by its dense, pyramidal crown and dark green leaves.

The cones are small and oval-shaped, and the bark is scaly and red-brown. It’s also known as the Mexican cypress and the Montezuma cypress. The fast rate of growth makes them ideal for bank stabilization, and because they’re deer resistant, they’re perfect for landscaping.

15. Kashmir Cypress

The Kashmir cypress is an evergreen tree that grows to 40-60 feet and is 15 to 20 feet wide. These are native to Pakistan and India. It’s characterized by its dense, pyramidal crown and dark green leaves. The cones are small and oval-shaped, and the bark is scaly and reddish-brown.

Also, the Kashmir cypress is known as the Himalayan cypress and the Indian cedar. These are deer tolerant, so the trees are perfect for landscaping in areas where deer browse if you don’t want to keep the forest animals out of the yard.

16. Bhutan Cypress

The Bhutan cypress is a tall, deciduous tree found in only Bhutan and Nepal. It has a thick, pyramidal crown and dark green leaves. The cones are tiny and oval-shaped, and the bark is scaly and reddish-brown. The wood is pale yellow with brown heartwood, that’s extremely durable. They grow to an average of 45 feet tall and are also known as the Himalayan cypress and Hoang Dan in Vietnam. These are popular for landscapers in North America, but these are considered invasive trees in their area of China.

17. Cheng’s Cypress

The Cheongs cypress is a deciduous tree that may reach a height of up to 60 feet. They originate in China. Its dense, pyramidal crown and dark green leaves are characteristic. The cones are tiny and oval-shaped, and the bark is scaly and reddish-brown. Other names for it include the Min River Cypress and Sichuan Cypress. It’s found throughout China’s mountain slopes but grows anywhere with a USDA hardiness zone of five.

18. Cuyamaca Cypress

The Cuyamaca cypress is an evergreen tree that grows to about 50 feet tall. It’s found in the southern United States and is characterized by its dense, pyramidal crown and dark green leaves. The cones are small and oval-shaped, and the bark is scaly with a red-brown hue.

It also goes by the name desert cypress. You can find it throughout the Cuyamaca Peak in San Diego County and grows as low as 3,000 feet above sea level. It hosts several species of wildlife, including many butterflies and moths, such as the Orange Torix Moth and Thorne’s Hairstreak. It grows well in partial soil and average soil acidic levels.

19. Lemon Cypress

The lemon cypress is an evergreen tree that grows to 10-20 feet without interference. These are native to California and thrive in warm, humid environments. It’s characterized by its dense, compact crown and dark green leaves. The cones are small and oval-shaped with a yellow tint, and the bark is reddish-brown. It’s also known as the Goldcrest Monterey cypress. It’s popular for landscaping because of the leaves’ unique lemon color and fragrance. Unlike other cypress trees, it grows best in a neutral soil ph that’s sandy and well-drained. These are also low-maintenance and deer resistant, which adds to their popularity.

20. Mendocino Cypress

The Mendocino cypress is an evergreen tree with a dense, pyramidal crown and dark green leaves. It grows to 40-60 feet and is found in the western United States, specific to the mountain ranges of Mendocino and Sonoma counties in North-West California. When grown in deep soil, the roots can reach depths of up to 16 feet. The cones are small and oval-shaped, and the bark is scaly and reddish-brown. Another name for the Mendocino cypress is the Pygmy cypress. These thrive in cool, moist environments, making them ideal for most areas in the Midwest and Eastern sections of the United States.