Types and varieties of cypress trees for the garden. Historical legends and properties of the oldest cypress tree

Cypress (lat. Cupressus) is a genus of evergreen coniferous trees and shrubs of the Cypress family (Cupressaceae). The cypress genus includes 15-20 species - trees and shrubs. It is distinguished by soft fragrant wood. Representatives of this family differ sharply from the majority coniferous plants. In general, they are characterized by high drought resistance, low demands on soil, high shade tolerance, combined with slow growth and long life expectancy.

Cypress trees are distinguished by their tall growth (reaching 40 m in height), pyramidal or cylindrical-rounded crown, and pleasant smell. They have cross-paired leaves, small, scale-like, adjacent to the shoot or slightly bent, convex on the back, with a resin gland. Their cones are round, woody, with shield-shaped, multifaceted scales on the legs, which fit tightly to each other. Cypress seeds are flat, with more or less developed wings. This plant is propagated by sowing, cuttings and grafting.

The genus includes about 20 species, which are native to the subtropics North America and temperate latitudes of the Eurasian continent, North Asia and North Africa. Thirteen species are bred in Crimea, on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus and in some areas of Central Asia. The most commonly cultivated plant is the evergreen cypress (C. sempervirens), reaching a height of 30 m and a width of 60 cm. The most common species in the United States is the large-fruited cypress (C. macrocarpa). This plant grows naturally only on the California coast. It reaches a height of 8-12 m, and is also distinguished by a compact, narrow-conical crown and light or dark green leaves. The diameter of its cones reaches 3.8 cm. Decorative forms of large-fruited cypress grow quickly and tolerate heavy pruning and various climatic conditions. Thanks to these qualities they are ideal plants for decorating garden plots in Southern Europe and temperate regions of South America and Australia. Most often they are used to create hedges.

Also known among gardeners are such species as Himalayan cypress (C. torulosa), Arizona cypress (C. arisonica), Lusitanian cypress (C. lusitanica) and Kashmir cypress (C. cashmeriana) - a small cone-shaped tree with blue-green leaves. In the coastal regions of China, large areas are occupied by Duclos cypress - a tree up to 26 m high. Its needles are scale-like, blunt, up to 1 mm long, with a bluish gland. Due to its decorative properties, this type of cypress is cultivated on the Black Sea coasts of the Caucasus and Crimea.
It is also worth mentioning the weeping cypress (C. fiinebris), which also comes from China, but is sometimes found in Japan, where it is planted around temples. It reaches a height of 18 m, is distinguished by drooping branches and light green leaves. The diameter of the cones is 1.3 cm.

It is worth noting that in the Old Testament of the Bible, cypress, along with cedar and fir, is mentioned as tree of paradise. Moreover, it was used to decorate the Jerusalem Temple.
Since ancient times, some peoples considered cypress a tree of sadness, sorrow, death, while others, on the contrary, considered it a symbol of youth, grace and nobility. “Slim as a cypress,” they often say about someone who takes care of his figure and has a chiseled silhouette.
In antiquity, cypress trees were planted around temples, grottoes, caves and cities; wounds and ulcers were treated with the resin of these trees. The analgesic and antiseptic properties of cypress are used in the treatment of varicose veins, numbness and swelling of the limbs, arthritis and hemorrhoids. In addition, cypress is used as a means of combating fungal diseases. However, deodorizing cypress essential oil is used not only in medicine. In cosmetology, it is one of the main components included in products for the care of sensitive and porous facial skin. Valuable cypress oil soothes and makes the skin of the feet healthier, eliminating unpleasant odors and excessive sweating, relieves fatigue.
Housewives know well that the smell of cypress is unbearable for moths and wood-boring beetles, therefore, if its branches are distributed throughout the house, then there is no need to be afraid of these insect pests.
The handsome cypress comes to the aid not only of humans, but also of many birds: woodpeckers, tits, grosbeaks, robins, wrens, finches and other birds feed on its seeds.

CULTIVATION FEATURES, SOIL, PLANTING RULES
Cypress needs bright sunlight and grows and develops well in open areas.
Cypress branches, as a rule, are dense, so you need to start removing excess shoots, in accordance with the chosen shape, early. Pruning branches is possible throughout the year, but it is better to do it in February-March.
Young shoots on the branches are constantly pinched so that only a small part of the corresponding shoot remains. Thus, from time to time the branches become thicker. If the terminal shoot stretches strongly upward, it must be removed so that the side shoot following it can be converted into an apical shoot.
The soil is mixed, consisting of turf, sand and humus.
Planting holes for cypress must be prepared in advance. If the soil is on your garden plot heavy, drainage from gravel or broken brick with a layer of 20 cm is required, since cypress loves loose soil. Before planting you need to prepare special soil- turf soil with the addition of sand and humus. Plants are planted to a depth of at least 80 cm. The distance between them is usually 0.5-1.5 m. When replanting, make sure that the root collar of the cypress is not buried in the ground, otherwise the plant may die.
During the first two years after planting, the plant is fertilized mineral fertilizer in an amount of 30-40 g/cm.
If the weather is hot and dry for a long time, then the trees need to be watered regularly and sprinkling twice a month.
Too compacted soil around cypress trees should be periodically loosened to a depth of 10-15 cm.

REPRODUCTION
Reproduction: by seeds (spring), woody cuttings (March - April) and grafting.
The seeds are moderately moistened and kept in a bright place. Rooted cuttings and seedlings are planted in a mixture of turf and leaf soil and sand (4:2:1), adding a handful of crushed bricks.

DISEASES AND PESTS
In general, cypress is not susceptible to disease. The most common diseases that affect these plants are:
- Yellowing of leaves - due to lack of watering, dry air, lack of nutrients in the soil, excess calcium in the soil, i.e. watering
too hard water.
- Brown leaf tips - this can be caused by exposure to cold or dry air or insufficient watering.
- Scale insects and false scale insects: brown plaques on the surface of leaves and stems, suck out cell sap. The leaves dry out and fall off.
Control measures: you cannot mechanically remove pests from cypress. The plant can be sprayed or bathed in a 0.15% Actellik solution (1-2 ml per 1 liter of water). Moreover, the procedure will have to be repeated several times. Treatments with actara and karbofos are effective.
Spider mites: appear when the air is too dry - a web appears between the branches, the leaves quickly dry out and fall off.
Control measures: Spray with 0.15% Actellik solution (1-2 ml per liter of water). Humidify the air around the plant.

LANDSCAPE DESIGN
Most often, cypress is used as decorative tree for alley, group or single plantings.

Böcklin Arnold. Dead island

A phallic symbol, as well as an emblem of death and funeral. It was assumed that cypress can preserve the body from decomposition, hence its use in cemeteries. Crowned by the Sun or Moon, it represents the androgyne. For the Chinese it means grace, happiness, but also death. In Christianity, it symbolizes endurance (hence its Christian symbolism of perseverance and valor), a just person, mourning and death. In the Greco-Roman tradition it was used as an emblem of Zeus, Apollo, Venus and Hermes and meant life. As an attribute of the gods of the underworld and fate, it signifies death. Dedicated to Hades (Pluto). The Phoenicians dedicated Astarte and Mel-kart, the Tree of Life.

Thus, cypress trees are trees that can often be found in cemeteries, because they symbolize the life of the soul after death.

Where does the tree grow?

Cypress is native to North America and “prefers” to grow in the subtropical and tropical climates of the northern hemisphere. Modern varieties grow in the mountains of Asia Minor, in southern China, on the islands of Cyprus, Crete, along the entire Mediterranean coast, in the Himalayas. Since the second half of the eighteenth century, the tree of ancient Hellas was brought to the Crimean peninsula and widely cultivated on its southern coast. According to another legend, the ancestor of the Tauride cypresses was the tree into which a beautiful girl turned, desperate to wait for her lover from a distant journey. Every day she stood on the shore, waiting, peering into the sea. Without waiting, its roots grew into the rock, turning into a beautiful tree.

Evergreen cypress is used to create hedges

What an exotic shrub it is

Cypress is an evergreen, long-lived coniferous tree belonging to the cypress family, ranging in height from 15 to 35 meters. In nature, there are specimens up to 2000 years old. In the first years of life, the plant grows vigorously, and by the age of 3 it reaches a height of one and a half to two meters. At 50–60 years of age, growth slows down for some time and reaches its maximum at one hundred years of age.

A monoecious plant with a pyramidal or spreading crown, cypress has small, needle-shaped leaves, tightly pressed to the branches and arranged tiled in four rows. The dorsal side of the leaves has sharply defined oil glands. The branches are densely overgrown with spherical or elongated cylindrical cones, which ripen in the second year and produce small seeds. There are male cones (microstrobiles), consisting of a thyroid rod, and female cones (megastrobiles), consisting of a rod covered with hair and several crosswise arranged scales.

Cypress propagates mainly by cuttings and begins to bear fruit in the 5th year of life. At the end of March and until May, the tree enters the active flowering phase. At the tips of the side shoots, male spikelets of bright yellow color are formed, the needles take on a dirty green hue due to the abundance of pollen. The space around flowering cypress plants is filled with the intoxicating aroma of pine needles, which has disinfectant, bactericidal properties and is very useful for people suffering from respiratory and pulmonary diseases. Often during flowering, pollen causes swelling of the mucous membranes of the nose and eyes in people and is a strong allergen.

In the wild, the plant is absolutely unpretentious, has little soil requirements, and is highly drought-resistant and shade-tolerant. Cypress is quite light-loving, frost-resistant and can withstand temperatures of minus 20 degrees, sometimes more.

Cypress branches are densely overgrown with spherical cones

What benefits does this plant bring?

In ancient times, the dark green branches of the cypress tree were considered a symbol of sadness. The plant was planted in cemeteries as a symbol of the perishability of the body and the immortality of the soul. Cypress branches were placed in the tombs of the dead and decorated with the plant at home as a sign of mourning. With the advent of Christianity, evergreen needles acquired a different meaning. From a symbol of sadness, it turned into a symbol of eternal life and joy. Description of the plant as a tree growing in garden of paradise, found in the Bible. By the way, according to certain translations of the Bible, it was from cypress that Noah built his Ark. In ancient times, entire cities were planted with these trees.

Cypress has hard wood rich in resin, which ensures good preservation. In ancient times, the tree was considered a sacred symbol of incorruptibility. The ancient Egyptians made sarcophagi from it, and embalmed mummies with cypress oil.

Previously, cypress was a rare and expensive type of wood. Only very rich people could afford to have products made from it. Due to its powerful structure, its wood was used in shipbuilding, house construction, furniture, and church utensils (rosaries, crosses, icon boards). Plutarch himself recommended writing all laws on cypress boards.

Essential oil is produced from cypress needles and branches, which is successfully used in aromatherapy and medicine. Thanks to its antiseptic and tonic properties, the oil is effective against staphylococci and tubercle bacilli. Due to its inherent astringent properties, the product is used as a hemostatic agent. Patients with gout and arthritis are recommended to take baths with cypress oil.

Cypress has powerful masculine energy. Having a phallic shape, it is considered a truly masculine tree, affecting male potency. Capable of inducing and enhancing sexual desire. If you are in close proximity to the plant, the energy of cypress will give a man an aura of irresistibility and sexual energy.

Cypress energy has the ability to protect against the “evil eye” and dark magic.

Cypress oil is made from cypress branches and needles.

Cypress(lat. Cupréssus) - a genus of evergreen trees and shrubs of the Cypress family with a pyramidal or spreading crown. Trees or shrubs covered with small scaly leaves pressed to the branches and arranged like tiles in 4 rows; Each such leaf has only one top free, while most of it is tightly attached to the branch; on the dorsal side of the leaf there is usually a developed oil gland, sometimes sharply defined.

Cypress trees grow in temperate climate northern hemisphere, distributed in the Mediterranean, the Sahara, the Himalayas, southern China and America from Guatemala to Oregon.

The needles and shoots of some species, for example, Mexican cypress (Cupressus lusitanica Mill.), are used to obtain aromatic oil, which is used in aromatherapy, having antirheumatic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, tonic and other beneficial properties.

Due to the high price, they are relatively rarely used in medicine and perfumery, which prefer cheaper components.

The wood of cypress trees is soft and light (with the exception of Arizona cypress, which has hard and heavy, nut-like wood), has a fungicidal effect, and the smell repels insects. It is used in construction, shipbuilding, for the manufacture of furniture, small items, including church utensils (rosaries, crosses, icon boards). The high resin content of the wood ensures its good preservation; for this reason, the ancient Egyptians made sarcophagi from this wood, and cypress oil was used when embalming mummies. Plutarch recommended writing all laws on cypress boards.

Cypress does not warp, crack, or be damaged by bugs. The wood has practically no layers, i.e. it is cut both lengthwise and crosswise. This is a monolith, a material of completely uniform density, which allows the master to realize all the most daring ideas without being distracted by the resistance of the material.

In Mediterranean countries, where cypress was not such a rarity, its wood was widely used in shipbuilding and in the construction and decoration of dwellings. It was used to make windows and door frames, support pillars, doors and ceilings. Theophrastus, in his book “Investigation of Plants,” mentions that statues are cut from the beautifully polished cypress wood and houses are built. He also writes about the high durability of this type of wood, since the doors made from it for the Temple of Artemis of Ephesus, considered one of the seven wonders of the world, were used for one and a half years. The Phoenicians built ships mainly from cypress and subsequently the entire fleet of Alexander the Great was built from this wood.

In the Christian tradition, cypress wood is used to make church objects. It is believed that cypress served as the foundation for the construction of the first Christian temple. In the Middle Ages, European artisans made massive doors for churches from cypress. Icons, rosaries, icon boards, crucifixes, crosses, etc. were made from fragrant cypress wood. Cypress wood was therefore considered a precious material inaccessible to mere mortals, which is reflected in the proverb about the rich who have “yew firewood, cypress kindling.” An item made of cypress wood was considered an unimaginable luxury, so cypress caskets, chests, and benches adorned exclusively the palaces of nobles and royal chambers.

The number of species belonging to the genus Cypress varies from 14 to 25 and even more depending on the source chosen, since most populations are isolated and small, making it difficult to confidently identify them as a separate species, subspecies or variety. Currently, there is a trend towards a decrease in the number of officially recognized species.

Some species of the cypress genus:

Arizona cypress(Cupressus arizonica Greene) - an unpretentious tree up to 21 m tall, tolerates frosts even down to −20…−25 °C;
Cypress evergreen(Cupressus sempervirens L.) - drought-resistant tree up to 30 m tall, lives up to 2000 years;
Large-fruited cypress(Cupressus macrocarpa Hartw. ex Gordon);
Weeping cypress(Cupressus funebris Endl.) - the plant is often planted in cemeteries in China and Japan. Some scientists place this plant in the genus Chamaecyparis under the name Chamaecyparis funebris (Endl.) Franco;
Kashmir cypress(Cupressus corneyana Нort. ex Carriere);
Mexican cypress(Cupressus lusitanica Mill.) - a tree up to 30-40 m tall and with a spreading crown, does not tolerate dry air and soil, and is sensitive to cold;
Himalayan cypress(Cupressus torulosa D.Don)

Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica Greene), botanical name: Taxodium distichum. Other names: Bald Cypress, Red Cypress, Yellow Cypress, Southern Cypress.

Cypress trees are classified as conifers, but, unlike most American conifers, these trees shed their needles in the fall, just like broadleaf trees do their foliage. Being a conifer, cypress grows adjacent to deciduous trees, and was traditionally processed together with hard-leaved trees and belonged to this group. The oiliness of cypress heartwood makes it one of the most durable trees when used in damp, mold-prone conditions.

Most cypress trees are native to the southern United States. The main growing areas are wet marshy areas along the Atlantic coast from Delaware to Florida and along the Gulf of Mexico to the Texas-Mexico border in the west. Cypress trees also grow along the Mississippi River plain from the delta in Louisiana to southern Indiana.

Cypress roots love water. Some trees growing in damp areas develop so-called “cypress knees” or pneumatophores. Articulated vertical sprouts extend from the roots, helping to hold the tree and also saturate the half-flooded area with air. root system. The wood from the shoots is soft and light-colored and is used in making vases and haberdashery.

The sapwood of the tree is pale yellow, the heartwood varies in color from light brown to dark or reddish brown. Cypress lends itself well to machine processing, is easy to plan and is resistant to deformation. Pre-drilling is recommended to prevent the boards from splitting. The use of nails and screws works very well. It glues well, sands, and is easily polished.

The main uses of Arizona cypress are:

Exterior: siding, shutters, roofing boards, trim, fencing.
Interior: paneling, lining, decoration, decoration, elegant and ordinary furniture, parquet, solid boards.

Evergreen cypress is loved by many. This plant appeared many millions of years ago, as evidenced by numerous excavations. In ancient Greek mythology there is a legend about a young man named Cypress, Apollo's favorite, who accidentally killed a deer and could not forgive himself for it. After much torment and self-flagellation, Apollo turned Cypress into an “eternal mourner.” The young man’s slender body became a tall trunk, and his hair became evergreen needles.

The birthplace of cypress is considered to be Syria, Lebanon, Türkiye and Cyprus. Once upon a time in ancient times, all of Cyprus was covered with impenetrable forests, among the trees of which cypress predominated. This is where the name of the plant comes from, which stands for “Cypriot”. For the Phoenicians, cypress became the “tree of life”, for Asians it is a symbol of immortality and longevity, for the Chinese it is the “tree of eternity”, in India it is considered sacred, and for Muslims it is a model of morality. The Slavs have cypress, thanks pleasant aroma wood and its durability, was considered a symbol of holiness.

Even in medieval Byzantium, icons were painted on cypress wood, which does not deteriorate or rot, and images, crosses, crucifixes and other church paraphernalia were carved from it. In one of the oldest monasteries in Cyprus there is a cypress cross with a piece of the True Cross of the Lord. And the biblical stories say that cypress grows in paradise.

The groves of this plant have healing properties. The resin released by wood creates a persistent, pleasant odor. Thanks to the action of phytoncides, just two cypress trees can reduce the number of pathogenic microflora by 50-70% within a radius of 10 sq.m. By improving the living environment, enriching the air with nutrients, this plant strengthens the immune properties of the human body and optimizes its physiological functions. In addition, cypress promotes sound absorption and air humidification. The essential oil obtained from this plant is widely used in aromatherapy. This effective remedy in the treatment of bronchopulmonary diseases.

Today, planting cypress on your plot is not difficult even for a novice gardener. To do this, it is enough to purchase a healthy seedling and provide it proper care. If it is not possible to plant the plant in open ground, then you can find the right variety of cypress and get a tub of evergreen healer indoors. You can find out about the most popular types, as well as choose cypress seedlings here.

Not all types of cypress can be grown at home in a pot, but some are still adapted to such an existence. They help create an excellent climate in the apartment with the aroma of a coniferous forest. The best adapted to this is the large-fruited cypress, whose homeland is California.

Cypress is not afraid of low temperatures, but the dry and hot air of the apartment during heating season can quickly destroy the plant. To feel good, cypress needs wintering at 5-15 degrees. The only way is to keep it cool winter garden or place the plant on an insulated but unheated loggia for the winter.

Cypress loves bright, diffused light. Direct sun can cause burns, causing the plant to drop needles from the affected branches. This tree also develops well in partial shade, especially outdoors. Cypress grows well in constantly moist soil; for this, it is watered often and abundantly, especially in summer. During the wintering period, watering is reduced to once a week, since the cypress practically does not grow at this time and does not process water.

Cypress is an evergreen tree, less often a shrub. Height is about 25 m. Cypress is a tree that grows quite slowly. At the age of 80-100 years it reaches medium size. The crown is spreading or pyramidal, rarely when all the branches are in the same horizontal plane. Branches branched many times. The needles are scaly, evergreen, cross-paired. Cypress cones are round, woody, with numerous shield-like scales. Cypress seeds are numerous and flat. They reach maturity in the second year.

In the modern classification, there are from 12 to 25 species of cypress; less than 10 species are used in gardening.

Arizona cypress

Under natural conditions it grows in the mountains in southern North America. Arizona up to 1500 m above sea level, in clean areas. In Germany, Arizona cypress is quite winter-hardy.

Tree about 15 m high or more. The branches are horizontally spaced from each other, the crown is wide-shaped. The bark of the Arizona cypress is red-brown and peels off in long strips. The branches are thick, identical, stick out in all directions, tetrahedral. The leaves are bluish-green, keeled, thick, sharp, with distinct holes. The cones are rounded, about 3 cm thick, red-brown, blue at maturity.

Grows quickly, light-loving, drought-resistant. Propagated by cuttings and seeds. Withstands frosts down to -20 degrees.

Mexican or Lusitanian cypress

The tree is about 30 m in height, with a wide pyramidal crown. The trunk bark is red-brown, the shoots are elongated, tetrahedral, located in different planes. Mexican cypress has ovoid needles, with pointed, spaced ends, tightly pressed. The cones are almost spherical, about 1.5 cm, numerous, young bluish-green, and ripe ones brown. Fast-growing, poorly tolerant of dry air and soil, sensitive to cold. Grows well in deep, well-drained, red soils. Durable.

Cypress evergreen

In nature, only the horizontal form of evergreen cypress is common - in the mountains of Iran, Asia Minor and on the islands of Crete, Cyprus and Rhodes. The pyramidal form arose in ancient times in culture and spread in the plantings of the Mediterranean and Western Asia.

The tree is about 30 m in height, with a narrow cone-shaped crown and short ascending branches tightly pressed to the trunk. The needles are scale-like, small, elongated-rhombic, arranged crosswise and pressed tightly against the shoots. Evergreen cypress cones are grayish-brown, round, about 3 cm in diameter, hanging on short branches. Seeds with a narrow wing, red-brown. It grows quickly, especially in youth, reaching its maximum height by the age of 100.

Shade-tolerant. Tolerates prolonged drought and short temperature drops of up to 20 degrees. It is undemanding to the soil, tolerates calcareous, rocky, dry soil, but prefers fresh and deep soil. It is short-lived in overly wet soils. Tolerates haircuts well.

All the most interesting things about cypress

It begins to bear fruit at the age of 5-6 years. Durable.

Cypress evergreen and him pyramidal shape have extraordinary decorative qualities, which have led to its use in park art since ancient times. The architecturally strict shape of the tree, its rare and intense dark green color creates an accent of great strength in the silhouette of the park landscape. As a rule, evergreen cypress is used in small groups, rarely in alley and single plantings.

Cypress care

IN middle lane In Russia, even the most frost-resistant varieties of cypress require shelter for the winter. young tree The cypress tree in the garden also needs to be tied up so that it is not broken by the wind.

In summer and spring, cypress should be watered abundantly, otherwise it will begin to dry out, in autumn - moderately. Street cypress, which must be carefully cared for, in central Russia grows almost as spectacular and powerful as its southern counterparts.

Many questions arise about how to care for cypress at home. Transplanting a cypress tree is an event specific to indoor gardening. Indoor cypress very demanding high humidity air, otherwise it begins to turn yellow.

Cypress plant.

Cypress (lat. Cupressus) is a genus of evergreen trees and shrubs of the Cypress family with a pyramidal or spreading crown.

Description of the cypress plant

Cypress is an evergreen tree, less commonly a shrub. Height up to 25 m. Cypress is a tree that grows very slowly. It reaches medium size at the age of 80-100 years. The crown is pyramidal or spreading, occasionally all branches are in the same horizontal plane. Branches branched many times. The needles are evergreen, scale-like, cross-paired. Cypress cones are woody, rounded with numerous shield-like scales. Cypress seeds are flat and numerous.

Cypress plant.

They reach maturity in the second year.
In the modern classification, from 12 to 25 species of cypress are distinguished; less than 10 species are used in ornamental gardening.

In the wild, cypress grows in the warm temperate zone of Eurasia, North America and North Africa. In other places it is planted artificially. Cypress trees live a very long time. Trees that are 2,000 years old are not uncommon, and in Greece, near Sparta, a tree that is 3,000 years old was found. Its height is 52 m, trunk diameter is 3.7 m.

Medicinal properties

Cypress essential oil is used for aromatherapy and in the treatment of bronchopulmonary diseases.
ABOUT healing properties Cypress was known in ancient times. Cypress was used to fumigate a sick person and the room where he was located. A decoction of cypress branches was used to treat joint diseases and gout, making baths or applying poultices and compresses. Cypress resin was used to heal wounds and ulcers.

Decoctions were made from the cones of the cypress plant to heal hemorrhoids, varicose veins veins, they also helped with spasms of the gastrointestinal tract, reduced hiccups, infusions were used for uterine bleeding, menopause, urinary incontinence, insomnia and snake bites. Doctors recommended that pulmonary patients take walks in cypress groves.

Now the aroma of cypress or cypress oil successfully defeats many pathogenic microbes. It will help protect against the flu virus if you drop 1-2 drops of oil into the aroma lamp daily.
You cannot be treated with cypress preparations if you are prone to neoplasms, after a heart attack, during pregnancy and increased blood clotting.
Traditional cosmetology uses decoctions for sweating feet. And cypress oil mixed with vegetable oil, rubbed into the scalp for hair loss and dandruff.

Varieties

Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica) is a tree up to 15 m high or more. It grows quickly, requires light, and is drought-resistant. It has gray bark on young shoots and finely pointed pale or gray-green leaves. The dark brown bark of older shoots peels off in long, narrow fibres. Cones up to 2.5 cm in diameter. Propagated by seeds and cuttings. Frost-resistant, withstands frosts down to -20°C. Since the end of the 19th century, it has been cultivated on the southern coast of Crimea, but has now spread to the steppe Crimea, Transcarpathia, and Odessa.

Evergreen cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) - only the horizontal form of this species is widespread in the wild - in the mountains of Asia Minor, Iran and on the islands of Cyprus, Crete and Rhodes. Tree up to 30 m tall, with a pyramidal crown and short ascending branches tightly pressed to the trunk. Tolerates prolonged drought and short-term temperature drops down to -20°C. It is undemanding to the soil, tolerates rocky and calcareous, dry and slightly saline soils, but prefers deep and fresh ones. On excessively wet soils it is short-lived and suffers from windfall. Stable in city conditions, tolerates haircuts well. Durable. Begins to bear fruit at the age of 5-6 years.
Evergreen cypress has exceptional decorative qualities, which determine its widespread use in landscape gardening. Most often it is used in small groups of 3-5, rarely in single and alley plantings. The horizontal form is used for large groups and arrays, trimmed walls. In culture since 1778.

Lusitanian or Mexican cypress (Cupressus lusitanica Mill) is a tree 30-40 m high, with a wide pyramidal crown, with hanging ends of the branches. The trunk bark is reddish-brown, the shoots are tetrahedral, elongated, located in different planes. A fast-growing breed that does not tolerate dry air and soil, and is sensitive to cold. Reaches best development on deep, well-drained, alluvial, red soil soils.
Lusitanian cypress is very variable in many ways morphological characteristics, which determines the abundance decorative forms. They look great in row and group plantings, singly, standing out effectively with the shape of the crown and the color of the needles.

There are many decorative forms:
— Bentham (Benthamii) - with shoots branching in the same plane, needles of different colors (from gray to bright green), with a narrower and more regular crown;
— Blue (glauca) - the needles are intensely gray, with the same long-lasting bloom on the cones, the shoots are located in the same plane and are somewhat thicker than the typical form, suffers from dryness and low temperatures;
- Lindleyi - with larger cones and dark green shoots;
— Knight (Nightiana) - similar to the Bentham form, from which it differs in the structure of the shoots and gray needles;
— Sad (tristis) - with a columnar crown and flexible downward directed branches and twigs.

Large-fruited cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) is the species most adapted to growing indoors. The plant is a tree with a pyramidal crown. The trunk is erect, with many extending horizontal branches covered with small scaly leaves. The leaves are light or dark green, the diameter of the cones is up to 3.8 cm. The plant has a yellow-green crown and dark lower branches. In winter, cypress is placed on a bright window, where the air temperature is about 25°C.

Kashmir cypress (Cupressus caschmeriana Royle) was brought from India. Since this species is very demanding of heat and watering, it is most suitable for growing indoors.

Cypress plant. Photo

Cypress plant. Photo: Leonora Enking

Ecology of home

Improves the microclimate of rooms, enriches them with oxygen, ozone, and air ions. Promotes sound absorption and air humidification, enriching it with biogenic (stimulating) substances. By improving the air environment, the plant optimizes the physiological functions of the body, bringing harmony and tranquility into our lives. Essential oils, secreted by cypress, have a phytoncidal effect. It has been proven that 1–2 cypress trees when placed on an area of about 10 square meters. m reduce the number of pathogenic microflora by 50–70%.

Application

People have long built houses and temples from cypress wood, made ship hulls, carved statues and made many other necessary things. In addition, these beautiful trees used for landscaping southern cities and towns. They do not die from air pollution by harmful gases, are undemanding to soil and are not afraid of shady places, although they still prefer to grow in well-lit places. Plants tolerate decorative pruning well and fit very organically into local landscapes.

Cypress trees adapt well to the urban environment, so they can be grown at home on a windowsill or in a tub. With their appearance, a pleasant smell spreads into the room, which has a beneficial effect on the human nervous system and respiratory system. The plant also produces oxygen and improves the indoor microclimate. By pinching the top, the cypress can be given a branched shape.

Cypress shelterbelts serve as very good protection for citrus crops from adverse weather conditions. Although cypress is a heat-loving plant, it can tolerate short-term frosts down to -26 °C.

Chemical composition

Green cones and cypress needles contain flavonols, camphene, terpene, pinene, terpineol, diterpene acids, and essential oil.

Cypress- a genus of coniferous plants that prefer to live in the warm regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The genus Cypress (lat. Cupressus) belongs to the Cypress family (lat. Cupressaceae), which is characterized by needle-shaped leaves, a slender crown, origin from different ancestors (polyphyletic group) and attachment to the Northern Hemisphere of our planet. For people, Cypress is one of the standards of harmony, and therefore, wanting to give someone a compliment, they say: “Slender, like Cypress!”

What's in your name

Plants of the genus Cypress are very ancient representatives flora Earths born 65 million years ago, when the giant dinosaurs had already become extinct. This is told in the ancient rocks of the Earth, in which fossilized remains of plants are found.

But they had a chance to see the transformation of the first ape-people into modern man, who gave the bushes and trees, which have certain similarities with each other, the common name “Cypress”.

The word “cypress” was born from ancient Greek legends in which gods, demigods, people, exotic animals and birds coexist. Ancient Greek gods easily turn people into stones, trees, grasses flowering plants when people need protection from some kind of obsession. To modern man it is difficult to understand such a method of protection from the vicissitudes of existence, but the gods know better, you can’t argue with them.

It was in this way that the Cypress plant appeared on Earth. The golden-haired ancient Greek god Apollo, who personified the Sun on the planet, decided to ease the pain of a beautiful young man named Cypress, who was his favorite. The young man was very upset about the loss of his beloved deer, which he accidentally shot himself. To save the young man from grief, Apollo turned him into a tree, which became known as Cypress. This is a strange kind of protection from grief.

There are other legends of the appearance of Cypress on Earth. All of them are associated with the transformation of slender and beautiful people into trees. This gave people a reason to turn Cypress into a symbol of sadness, decorating the last refuge of man on Earth by planting such a bush or tree near graves.

The Christian religion has reconsidered its attitude towards Cypress, seeing in its longevity and ability to be reborn after natural disasters (forest fires) a symbol of the eternity of existence.

Description

The genus Cypress is represented on Earth by large shrubs and slender evergreen trees, the crown of which is often pyramidal, and the height varies from 5 to 40 meters.

Cypress trees are very popular in cultivation around the world, which has led to the birth of the most different sizes and plant forms, as well as the variety of their flowers.

The shape of Cypress leaves depends on the age of the plant. On young plants that live for a couple of years, the stems are covered with needle-like leaves ranging from 5 to 15 mm in length. On older individuals, the leaves are scale-like, ranging from 2 to 6 mm long. The leaves are located on the stem in pairs, opposite each other. Each next pair of leaves is located crosswise in relation to the previous pair. The concept of “evergreen” does not negate the periodic renewal of leaves, which persist for three to five years.

The fruits of Cypress are ovoid or spherical cones up to 40 mm long, which like to be located on branches in pairs. Cones pollinated by insects (usually bees) take much longer to ripen than a human child in the womb. For Cypress seeds to fully ripen, it takes 18 to 24 months.

The small seeds of the plant, the length of which ranges from 4 to 7 mm, are equipped with narrow wings for travel, located one on each of its sides. When ripe, the cones of some Cypress species open their protective doors, releasing their winged seeds. But there are species that, having studied the insidiousness of nature over tens of millions of years, keep their cones closed for many years. When the elements give free rein to the fire, burning everything in its path, patient cones open on the scorched earth, releasing seeds for the birth of new Cypresses. Apparently, it was these species that made it possible for Cypress to remain on the earth’s surface for such a long period.

Varieties

Large-fruited cypress (lat. Cupressus macrocarpa)

Evergreen cypress (lat. Cupressus sempervirens)

Arizona cypress (lat. Cupressus arizonica)

California cypress (lat. Cupressus goveniana)

Cypress Dupre, or Saharan cypress (lat. Cupressus dupreziana)

Kashmir cypress (lat. Cupressus cashmeriana)

Weeping cypress (lat.
Historical legends and properties of the oldest cypress tree

Cupressus funebris).

Usage

Cypress is very popular in urban landscaping, where it is planted on the streets, in gardens and parks.

Aromatic oils obtained from young shoots and needles of Cypress are used in cosmetology and aromatherapy.

Cypress wood, thanks to the resins it contains, is very durable, and therefore popular with craftsmen who make furniture, church utensils, and sea vessels.

Construction and finishing. Equipment. Wallpaper. Coloring. Facade

Types and varieties of cypress trees for the garden. Historical legends and properties of the oldest cypress tree

Where does the tree grow?

What an exotic shrub it is

What benefits does this plant bring?

Arizona cypress

Mexican or Lusitanian cypress

Cypress evergreen

All the most interesting things about cypress

Cypress care

Cypress plant.

Cypress plant.

What's in your name

Description

Varieties

Historical legends and properties of the oldest cypress tree

Usage

see also

Links

Where does the tree grow?

What an exotic shrub it is

What benefits does this plant bring?

Arizona cypress

Mexican or Lusitanian cypress

Cypress evergreen

All the most interesting things about cypress

Cypress care

Cypress plant.

Cypress plant.

What's in your name

Description

Varieties

Historical legends and properties of the oldest cypress tree

Usage

see also

Links

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