PlantFiles: Leyland Cypress
X Cupressocyparis leylandii

This tree has been an amazing performer for me here. I grow it in a container on the roof of my garage and it went through its first winter as if nothing had happened. Temps dipped to -16 C, and even if its roots were frozen solid, it showed no sign of distress whatsoever. It still looks fresh and green.
It does need the additional water though. Apart from that no problems with this plant. And, it is an amazing grower.

When we bought our house, the previous owners had planted two screens of Leylands between both neighbor's houses. The one on the south side was planted with a reasonable spacing of 8'. However the line planted on the north side (apparently planted later by another family) are just 3-4' apart. Please don't do that!!! We had to dig up and give away every other tree in the front yard when the trees where 8' tall and it was a huge amount of work (4 trees). They did transfer just fine, however. The ones in the back yard have yet to be thinned and I'm dreading having to take ten trees out. These we have to just chop down and it makes me mad! They grow really fast, and you don't need to plant them so close together.

They do have shallow roots, and at about 8' can really benefit from a round of root starter to make them grow deeper roots. We nearly lost several when Isabel blew through, did the root starter, and now have had zero leaning issues despite some very serious wind storms and an additional 3-4' of height.

Feed with evergreen spikes every 2-3 years to keep the tips from browning.

I have heard that this plant has shallow roots. I planted 4 of them in loamy soil about 3 years ago and they are still staked because when we have a lot of rain and wind in the spring they start to keel over. However, the 2 I planted in more compact soil have thus far stood up to the elements without being staked.

Here in CA the tree is used for a quick screen; however, the plant is known to get Coryneum, a canker fungus. There isn't a cure for the disease and it can be passed to near by trees of the same type. Cleaning your pruning blades with a bleach solution between each cut will only delay the spread of the disease/death of the plant(s). If the plant lives longer then you are fortunate to not have the disease in your area.

This plant has it place in the landscape, but it could be short lived in some regions.

Please, don't plant this tree unless you're really regular with trimming it, or you've got a big garden! It doesn't regenerate from old wood, so if your hedge gets too fat, you can't get it back to "civilised". The original tree is at Welshpool (England/Wales border), 120yrs old, 130 feet tall, and still going up. Here in England, it provides tree surgeons with a LOT of work, and most of us get to dislike it fairly quickly. When cutting/trimming it, wear long sleeves, 'cos the sap itches like crazy. As a standard, it's not as pretty as either of its parents (Nootka Cypress and Monterey Cypress).

Attractive they may be, they are overplanted in my area. Everytime I go into a garden center around here it seems thats all I see is Leyland Cypress.

I have many of these trees bordering my yard. Some have done beautifully and others have suddenly turned brown and died. I still don't know why. Possibly soil toxins or water ponding.

I, too, bought my Leyland Cypress as a 1 gallon potted living tree for my first Christmas in my house in 2002. It has survived and grown with little care and retains naturally a pleasing conical shape. I'm concerned that I might have to risk moving it if it continues to grow. It is now about 9 ft high and 4 ft in circumference and is situated at the edge of one of my garden paths. I plan to get at it soon with my electric hedge trimmers to top it out and trim it into a more compact conical topiary shape, as I have done in the past. These trees can apparently be trimmed at the branch tips without harm.

I purchased a scrawny sapling in a one-gallon pot from Lowe's five years ago. It is now over 10 feet tall and at least half as wide, taking up more than its alotted space. Although I knew it grew fast, the actual speed it grows at was beyond my expectations. Very popular in my area as a fast-growing screen.

Beautiful, full, dark green foliage. It must love our SC clay soil and humid summers. Thrives in drought conditions, too.

Ditto. Same problem.
They seem to do ok here in the nursery so I'm assuming they don't like the soil here or the watering regimen (or lack thereof)

This plant was sold as a "live Christmas tree" for use in BR, LA. It hasn't done well inside or out; shade or sun, heavy water or drought. I've read a lot of info that says they are supposed to be very hardy, but I've had nothing but grief with mine and have finally given up on it.