tasheetEnhanced 4 May 2016

Cupressus sempervirens (Mediterranean cypress)

Author: J Rojas-Sandova AUTHORS INFO & AFFILIATIONS

blication: CABI Compendiumhttps://doi.org/10.1079/cabicompendium.17105

Datasheet Types: Crop, Tree, Invasive species, Host plant

1 445 1 0 0 0

Abstract
This datasheet on Cupressus sempervirens covers Identity, Overview, Distribution, Dispersal, Biology & Ecology, Environmental

Requirements, Natural Enemies, Impacts, Uses, Management, Genetics and Breeding, Economics, Further Information.

Identity
Preferred Scientific Name
Cupressus sempervirens L.
Preferred Common Name
Mediterranean cypress
Other Scientific Names
Chamaecyparis thujiformis R.Sm. ex Gordon
Cupressus atlantica Gaussen
Cupressus conoidea Spadoni
Cupressus dupreziana A. Camus
Cupressus expansa Targ.Tozz. ex Steud.
Cupressus fastigiata DC.
Cupressus foemina Garsault
Cupressus globulifera Parl.
Cupressus horizontalis Mill.
Cupressus lugubris Salisb.
Cupressus mariae Sennen
Cupressus mas Garsault
Cupressus orientalis Beissn.
Cupressus patula Pers.
Cupressus pyramidalis O.Targ.Tozz.
Cupressus roylei Carrière
Cupressus sempervirens var. fastigiata
Cupressus sempervirens var. pyramidalis
Cupressus sempervirens var. stricta Aiton
Cupressus sphaerocarpa Parl.
Cupressus stricta Mill. ex Gordon
Cupressus thujifolia Knight ex Gordon
Cupressus thujioides H.Low ex Gordon
Cupressus tournefortii Audib. ex Carrière
Cupressus umbilicata Parl.
Juniperus whitleyana Miq.
International Common Names
Englishcommon cypressevergreen cypressgraveyard cypressItalian cypressTuscan cypress
Spanishciprésciprés italianociprés mediterráneo
Frenchciprés comúncyprés vert
Chinesedi zhong hai bai mu
Portuguesecedro-bastardociprestecipreste-comumcipreste-de-itáliacipreste-dos-cemitérios
Local Common Names
Cubaciprésciprés fúnebreciprés piramidal
Dominican Republiccinta
GermanyZypresse, Atlas-Zypresse, EchteZypresse, ImmergrüneZypresse, ItalienischeZypresse, Mittelmeer-Zypresse,
Säulen-
Italycipresso comune
Netherlandsitaliaanse cypres
Swedencypress
Turkeykara selvi
EPPO code
CVBAT (Cupressus atlantica)
EPPO code
CVBSE (Cupressus sempervirens)
Trade name
cypress wood

Pictures
 'Bolgheri' variety Natural cypress stand 'Agrimed' n.1 variety Ornamental cypress avenue
'Bolgheri' - a patent cypress Samos, Greece. A patent cypress variety Villa Torrigiani, Lucca, Italy.
variety resistant to S. cardinale. PAOLA RADDI resistant to S. cardinale. PAOLA RADDI

PAOLA RADDI PAOLA RADDI

Habit Leaves Male flowers Female flowers

var. horizontalis (left) and var. PAOLA RADDI (microsporophylls) (macrosporophylls)
pyramidalis (right).
PAOLA RADDI PAOLA RADDI
PAOLA RADDI

Cones before opening Seeds Canker dieback on adult Final stage of S. cardinale
PAOLA RADDI PAOLA RADDI cypresses canker

PAOLA RADDI PAOLA RADDI

Orsillus maculatus
O. maculatus on cypress cone
affected by S. cardinale.
PAOLA RADDI

Taxonomic Tree
DomainEukaryota
KingdomPlantae
PhylumSpermatophyta
SubphylumGymnospermae
ClassPinopsida
FamilyCupressaceae
GenusCupressus
SpeciesCupressus sempervirens

Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature

The family Cupressaceae includes 30 genera and 133 species of conifers distributed especially in the Northern Hemisphere, more
scattered in south temperate regions (Stevens, 2012). Species within the genus Cupressus are trees (rarely shrubs) evergreen,
and monoecious. At least 25 taxa have been identified and described, which are considered to be either full species, subspecies

or varieties (Gellini and Grossoni, 1979; Allemand 1979).

Many authors have recognized the occurrence of two growth habits for C. sempervirens: fastigiate or horizontal, and have

assigned subspecific taxonomic ranks on that basis. It is widely thought that only the horizontal form predates human activity, with
the fastigiate form having a horticultural origin dating to early historic or prehistoric times. There is also some question as to
whether the fastigiate form is strictly heritable; it appears that "horizontal" specimens may arise from "fastigiate" stock (Farjon

2005). The species name sempervirens comes from the Latin for 'evergreen'.

There are many cultivars for this species: the cultivar “glauca” has blue-green foliage and tight columnar form; “stricta” is one of

the most popular; and “horizontalis” has horizontally-spreading branches (Gilman and Watson, 1993).

Plant Type
 Perennial

Seed propagated

Tree

Woody

Overview
Importance

C. sempervirens is a multipurpose tree species, which may reach up to 30 m in height with a d.b.h. of 50-60 cm. This species
produces high-quality and very durable wood at low yields and is utilized more frequently as windbreaks, soil conservation,

protection forest, and as an ornamental in many European landscapes. This species is suitable for plantation programmes in
unfavourable conditions in many countries, including for afforestation on dry, shallow, clay soils. Since the beginning of the 1950s,
Seiridium cardinale (cypress canker) has decimated common cypress plantations in Italy, Greece and France.

Summary of Invasiveness
C. sempervirens is an evergreen conifer widely commercialized and cultivated as an ornamental tree. Outside its native
distribution, large and viable populations occur in subtropical and warm temperate areas in Asia, Africa, Europe, North America,
Central America and the West Indies (Farjon, 2013). Currently, this species is listed as invasive in Chile, Juan Fernandez Island
and in Cuba (Belov, 2009; Oviedo Prieto et al., 2012). A risk assessment for PIER gave it a high risk score of 9 (PIER, 2015).

Description
The following description is taken from Flora of China Editorial Committee (2015):

C. sempervirens is a tree growing up to 30 m tall; bark grayish brown, shallowly fissured; branches ascending or horizontally
spreading; branchlets not arranged in a plane, ultimate ones 4-angled, approximately 1 mm in diameter. Leaves in 4 ranks,
densely appressed, dark green, not glaucous, 0.5-1 mm, ridged abaxially, without a conspicuous abaxial gland, apex obtuse or
subacute. Pollen cones 4-8 mm. Seed cones yellowish gray when ripe, subglobose or ellipsoid, 2.5-4 × 2-3 cm; cone scales 8-14,

each fertile scale with 8-20 seeds.

Botanical Features

Habit

C. sempervirens is a medium-sized tree which may reach up to 30 m in height, with a d.b.h. of 50-60 cm. C. sempervirens var.
horizontalis has spreading branches and a broad conical crown, the most common crown shape found in its natural range. The
bole is straight with bark usually grey, thin and fibrous with fine longitudinal ridges. Trees with a columnar crown with erect
branches are sometimes treated as C. sempervirens var. pyramidalis (syn. stricta, fastigiata).

Foliage

The leaves are usually scale-like, decussate, imbricated, tightly pressed against the axis, partly grown together with the
branchlets and exhibiting large, more or less visible resin ducts in the central-dorsal part.

Flowering

C. sempervirens is a monoecious species with oblong microsporophylls ('male' inflorescence) (3-5 mm long, approximately 2 mm

wide), which appear at the tip of the brachyblasts and are very numerous, already visible in winter, and generally distributed
through the lower part of the crown. The macrosporophylls ('female' inflorescence) are subglobose (2.5 mm), composed of 6-12
scales, each bearing 6-20 ovules, generally located in the upper portion of the crown.Pollen dispersal occurs from January to
March, and is dependent on location. Pollination is anemophilous. In June the fertilized female cones are visible (approximately 1
cm) and green. In November they turn pale yellow, and the seed gradually reaches maturation in the second year after pollination,
between summer and late autumn. The cones (average 2.5 cm long, 2 cm wide) turn silver-grey and their scales tend to open

slightly. In the autumn or more usually in winter, the scales open out further and the seeds are released. Each of the 9-12 scales
contains about 8-15 seeds (5-6 mm long, 3-4 mm wide); 1000 seeds weigh approximately 6-8 g.

List of Pests

Major host of

Megastigmus atlanticus (atlas cypress Megastigmus wachtli (cypress seed Phloeosinus armatus
seed chalcid) chalcid) Seiridium cardinale (cypress canker)
 Trisetacus juniperinus (juniper gall mite) Zygotylenchus guevarai

Minor host of

Botryosphaeria dothidea (canker of Heterobasidion annosum Phytophthora austrocedri

almond) Orthotomicus erosus (Mediterranean Sphaeropsis sapinea (Sphaeropsis
Cinara cupressi sensu lato (Cypress pine beetle) blight)
aphid) Phaeoacremonium iranianum

Diplodia seriata (grapevine trunk Phaeoacremonium minimum (Petri

disease) disease)

Host of (source-data mining)

Armillaria mellea (armillaria root rot) Carulaspis minima (cedar scale) Planococcus vovae
Armillaria ostoyae (armillaria root rot) Lenzitopsis oxycedri

Pests Recorded
an error has occurred

Distribution
Due to the long horticultural history of C. sempervirens in the Mediterranean region, its original native distribution is unclear. C.
sempervirens is considered native to the Eastern Mediterranean region, including Libya, southern Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Syria,
Lebanon, and Iran (Govaerts, 2015; USDA-ARS, 2015). It is now widely found in the whole Mediterranean region, and in other

areas with similar climate including California, South Africa and southern Australia. It also grows in areas with cooler, moister
summers.

Review of Natural Distribution

The natural range of C. sempervirens is predominantly in the Mediterranean, including Greece, the Aegean islands, Crete,
Cyprus, Syria, Israel, Cilicia (Turkey) and Lebanon. C. sempervirens var. indica reaches as far as southwestern Iran (Ducrey et

al., 1999).C. sempervirens has become naturalized in many Mediterranean countries, especially Greece, Italy, France, Portugal
and Spain, where extensive plantations have been established for afforestation, windbreaks and ornamental purposes. The
heartland of cypress in Italy is Tuscany, where it is utilized extensively as a forest and ornamental tree; in France it is Val du
Rhône, where it is commonly used as a windbreak.

Location of Introductions

In France, Italy, Greece, Spain, and Portugal, common cypress has been planted outside its natural range and is used as an
ornamental, windbreak or in afforestation projects. Over the last 20 years, Seiridium cardinale (cypress canker disease) has been
a limiting factor for new plantations. However, recently, clones resistant to S. cardinale have been selectively bred (Pichot et al.,
1999).

Distribution Table

The distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available to CABI. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information

on the status. When citing original literature, please check to ensure the correct reference is used. CABI makes every effort to ensure that these data are complete
and up-to-date but cannot guarantee the accuracy of every record. If you have spotted something that needs updating, please contact us at compend@cabi.org.

Please include reference to published literature. Data will be verified by CABI editors and published if there is sufficient evidence.

Last updated: 31 Jul 2023

Last First
Continent/Country/Region Distribution Reported Origin Reported Invasive Planted Reference Notes

Africa

Algeria Present Introduced Govaerts (2015)

Egypt Present Ibrahim et al.

(2010)

Kenya Present Planted CABI (Undated b)

Libya Present Native Govaerts (2015)

Morocco Present Introduced Govaerts (2015)

South Africa Present Planted CABI (Undated b)

Tunisia Present Introduced Govaerts (2015)

Asia

Bhutan Present Introduced 2006 Seebens et al.

(2017)
 Last First
Continent/Country/Region Distribution Reported Origin Reported Invasive Planted Reference Notes

China Present CABI (Undated a) Present

based on
regional
distribution.

- Jiangsu Present Introduced Flora of China Cultivated

Editorial
Committee (2015)

- Jiangxi Present Introduced Flora of China Cultivated

Editorial
Committee (2015)

Iran Present Native Govaerts (2015)

Israel Present Introduced DAISIE (2015) Cultivated

Jordan Present Native USDA-ARS (2015)

Lebanon Present Native Govaerts (2015)

Palestine Present Native Govaerts (2015)

Syria Present Native Govaerts (2015)

Turkey Present Native USDA-ARS (2015)

Europe

Albania Present Introduced 1877 Seebens et al.

(2017)

Bulgaria Present Introduced Govaerts (2015)

Croatia Present Planted Braasch (2001)

Cyprus Present Native USDA-ARS (2015)

France Present Introduced Govaerts (2015)

- Corsica Present Introduced Govaerts (2015)

Greece Present Native Govaerts (2015) East

Aegean Is.

- Crete Present Native Oviedo Prieto et

al. (2012)

Ireland Present Planted CABI (Undated b)

Italy Present Introduced Govaerts (2015)

- Sardinia Present Introduced Govaerts (2015)

- Sicily Present Introduced Govaerts (2015)

Malta Present Introduced DAISIE (2015) Cultivated

Portugal Present Introduced 1804 Seebens et al.

(2017)

- Madeira Present Introduced DAISIE (2015) Cultivtaed

Russia Present CABI (Undated a) Present

based on
regional
distribution.

- Southern Russia Present Planted CABI (Undated b)

San Marino Present Planted CABI (Undated b)

Serbia Present Planted Milenković et al.

(2022)

Slovenia Present Planted CABI (Undated b)

Spain Present Introduced Govaerts (2015)

- Balearic Islands Present Introduced Govaerts (2015)

- Canary Islands Present Introduced Govaerts (2015)

Switzerland Present Introduced Govaerts (2015)

Ukraine Present Introduced Govaerts (2015)

North America

Cuba Present Introduced Invasive Oviedo Prieto et

al. (2012)

Dominican Republic Present Introduced Acevedo- Cultivated

Rodríguez and
Strong (2012)

El Salvador Present Introduced Linares (2005) Cultivated

Haiti Present Introduced Acevedo- Cultivated

Rodríguez and
Strong (2012)

Mexico Present Introduced Breedlove (1986) Chiapas

Puerto Rico Present Introduced Acevedo- Cultivated

Rodríguez and
Strong (2012)

United States Present CABI (Undated a) Present

based on
 Last First
Continent/Country/Region Distribution Reported Origin Reported Invasive Planted Reference Notes
regional
distribution.

- California Present Introduced Gilman and Cultivated

Watson (1993)

- Florida Present Introduced Gilman and Cultivated

Watson (1993)

- Hawaii Present Introduced CABI (Undated b) Cultivated

Oceania

Australia Present Planted Seebens et al.

(2017)

French Polynesia Present Introduced Florence et al. Cultivated

(2013)

Guam Present Introduced Raulerson (2006) Cultivated

New Caledonia Present Introduced MacKee (1994) Cultivated

New Zealand Present Introduced Webb et al. (1988) Cultivated

South America

Argentina Present Planted CABI (Undated b)

Bolivia Present Introduced Jørgensen et al.

(2014)

Chile Present Introduced Invasive Belov (2009) Invasive on

Juan
Fernandez
Island

Colombia Present Introduced Idárraga-

Piedrahita et al.
(2011)

Venezuela Present Introduced Hokche et al.

(2008)

History of Introduction and Spread

There is a long history of exploitation going back to the times of ancient Mediterranean civilizations. The use of C.

sempervirens as an ornamental tree has led to widespread introductions throughout the Mediterranean at least from Roman times
to the present and more recently across subtropical and warm temperate regions of the world. The heartland of cypress in Italy is
Tuscany, where it is utilized extensively as a forest and ornamental tree; in France it is Val du Rhône, where it is commonly used
as a windbreak. In Hawaii, a total of 3000 trees were intentionally planted in forests across the islands between 1923 and 1955
(Little and Skolmen, 2003). By 1863, this species was reported as an “exotic ornamental tree” in Cuba (Pezuela, 1863).

Risk of Introduction
The risk of introduction of C. sempervirens is moderate to high. This species is commonly commercialized and sold in the
horticultural trade as ornamental tree, and thus its capability to escape from cultivation and establish into new habitats means that
it can easily spread.

Means of Movement and Dispersal

C. sempervirens spreads by seeds. Cones may persist on the tree for several years because, as with many
other Cupressus species, C. sempervirens displays varying levels of serotiny: cones may remain unopened on the tree for many
years until a fire induces them to open (Vidakovic, 1991). In cultivation it is often propagated by cuttings and layering (Farjon,
2013).

Pathway Causes

Long
Pathway cause Notes distance Local References

Disturbance (pathway cause) Along roadsides and disturbed sites Yes Yes Belov (2009)

Escape from confinement or garden escape (pathway Often planted as ornamental Yes Yes USDA-ARS
cause) (2015)

Hedges and windbreaks (pathway cause) Common hedge plant Yes Yes

Industrial purposes (pathway cause) Essential oil is distilled from the shoots Yes Yes PROTA
(2015)

Ornamental purposes (pathway cause) Yes Yes

Timber trade (pathway cause) Wood, timber, veneer, door frames, window Yes Yes PROTA
frames (2015)

Pathway Vectors
 Pathway vector Notes Long distance Local References

Debris and waste associated with human activities (pathway vector) Yes Yes

Soil, sand and gravel (pathway vector) Seeds Yes Yes

Wind (pathway vector) Seeds Yes Yes

Habitat
C. sempervirens grows in woodlands, interior valleys, and coastal mountains at elevations from 500 m to 2000 m in areas with
Mediterranean climate, dry, hot summers and winter rain, or semi-arid habitats (Belov, 2009; Farjon, 2013). It is common in
disturbed areas along roadsides, gardens, parks and cemeteries (Farjon, 2005).

Environments

Habitat Presence Status

Terrestrial

Terrestrial|Terrestrial – Managed|Disturbed areas Present, no further details Harmful (pest or invasive)

Terrestrial|Terrestrial – Managed|Disturbed areas Present, no further details Natural

Terrestrial|Terrestrial – Managed|Disturbed areas Present, no further details Productive/non-natural

Terrestrial|Terrestrial – Managed|Rail / roadsides Present, no further details Harmful (pest or invasive)

Terrestrial|Terrestrial – Managed|Rail / roadsides Present, no further details Natural

Terrestrial|Terrestrial – Managed|Rail / roadsides Present, no further details Productive/non-natural

Terrestrial|Terrestrial – Managed|Urban / peri-urban areas Present, no further details Harmful (pest or invasive)

Terrestrial|Terrestrial – Managed|Urban / peri-urban areas Present, no further details Productive/non-natural

Biology and Ecology

Genetics

The chromosome number reported for C. sempervirens is 2n = 22, 44 (Slavik et al., 1993).

Reproductive Biology

The flowers of C. sempervirens are monoecious and are wind-pollinated (Farjon, 2013).

Physiology and Phenology

Pollen dispersal occurs from January to March, and is dependent on location. Pollination is anemophilous. In June the fertilized
female cones are visible (approximately 1 cm) and green. In November they turn pale yellow, and the seed gradually reaches

maturation in the second year after pollination, between summer and late autumn. The cones (average 2.5 cm long, 2 cm wide)
turn silver-grey and their scales tend to open slightly. In the autumn or more usually in winter, the scales open out further and the
seeds are released. It is possible for cones to remain unopened on the tree for many years until a fire induces them to open and
subsequently to shed viable seed (Vidakovic, 1991). The tree is very long-lived, with some trees reported to be over 1000 years
old.

Associations

In the Mediterranean region, C.sempervirens grows associated with Pinus brutia, Juniperus excelsa, Juniperus foetidissima,
Juniperus drupacea, Juniperus phoenicea, Quercus spp., Pistacia atlantica, Amygdalus scoparia, and Poterium spinosum (Farjon,
2013).

Environmental Requirements

C. sempervirens grows on sandy, loamy and heavy (clay) soils; for optimal growth it requires some clay in the soil, which can vary
from acid to alkaline. It prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil, but does not grow well in very humid soils
rich in organic matter. It cannot grow in the shade.

The best growth occurs in regions with a mean annual rainfall of about 1000 mm, and a minimum summer and a mean annual
temperature of 15-20°C. It can tolerate a mean annual rainfall of less than 600 mm and droughts lasting several months, but is
often poorly distributed in regions with significantly dry summers (Ducrey et al., 1999). It also tolerates winter temperatures as low
as -20°C (Puric, 1967). In 1985, much cypress was damaged by temperatures reaching -25°C, with a mean of -17°C for several
hours and days. Naturalized populations in Italy and France exhibit good frost hardiness (Raddi and Panconesi, 1989).This
species has the capability to survive being covered by snow for several months (Belov, 2009; Farjon, 2009).
Climate

C. sempervirens is now naturalized and cultivated in several Mediterranean countries. This species grows from sea level to 1750
m, such as in the White Mountains in Crete. The best growth occurs in regions with a mean annual rainfall of about 1000 mm, and
a minimum summer and a mean annual temperature of 15-20°C. It can tolerate a mean annual rainfall of less than 600 mm, but is
often poorly distributed in regions with significantly dry summers (Ducrey et al., 1999). It also tolerates winter temperatures as low
as -20°C (Puric, 1967). In 1985, much cypress was damaged by temperatures reaching -25°C, with a mean of -17°C for several
hours and days. Naturalized populations in Italy and France exhibit good frost hardiness (Raddi and Panconesi, 1989).

Soil and Physiography

For optimal growth, C. sempervirens cypress requires a certain amount of clay in the soil, which can vary from acid to alkaline. It

does not grow well in very humid soils rich in organic matter, or in sandy soils. In the Mediterranean, hilly terrain with calcareous
or marly soils are the most common for C. sempervirens cultivation.

Vegetation Types
dry forests

sclerophyllous forests

Climate

Preferred or
Climate type tolerated Remarks

As - Tropical savanna climate with dry summer - < 60mm precipitation driest month (in summer) and < (100 - [total Tolerated
annual precipitation{mm}/25])

Aw - Tropical wet and dry savanna climate - < 60mm precipitation driest month (in winter) and < (100 - [total annual Tolerated
precipitation{mm}/25])

BS - Steppe climate - > 430mm and < 860mm annual precipitation Tolerated

Cf - Warm temperate climate, wet all year - Warm average temp. > 10°C, Cold average temp. > 0°C, wet all year Preferred

Cs - Warm temperate climate with dry summer - Warm average temp. > 10°C, Cold average temp. > 0°C, dry Preferred
summers

Latitude/Altitude Ranges

Latitude North (°N) Latitude South (°S) Altitude lower (m) Altitude upper (m)

38 -30 0 1750

Air Temperature

Parameter Lower limit (°C) Upper limit (°C)

Absolute minimum temperature -25

Mean annual temperature 15 20

Mean maximum temperature of hottest month 25 40

Mean minimum temperature of coldest month -15 -3

Rainfall

Parameter Lower limit Upper limit Description

Dry season duration 0 3 number of consecutive months with <40 mm rainfall

Mean annual rainfall 600 1000 mm; lower/upper limits

Rainfall Regime
Winter

Soil Tolerances
Soil texture > heavy

Soil reaction > acid

Soil reaction > neutral

 Soil reaction > alkaline

Soil drainage > free

Special soil tolerances > shallow

Soil Types
arid soils

calcareous soils

clay soils

Natural enemies

Life Biological control Biological control

Natural enemy Type stages Specificity References in on

Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis (evergreen Herbivore All not specific

bagworm) Stages

Impact Summary

Category Impact

Cultural/amenity Positive and negative

Economic/livelihood Positive and negative

Environment (generally) Positive and negative

Impact: Environmental
Areas where Cupressus species have been introduced have shown changes in the physical and chemical characteristics of the
soil (Idris and Osman, 2014).

Impact: Social
C. sempervirens pollen causes allergic reactions in the Mediterranean region, and is one of the main causes of respiratory

allergies in this area (Shahali et al., 2012). While cypress pollen allergy was first reported only in 1945, the prevalence of cypress
pollinosis has been increasing, leading to preventive measures being introduced such as avoidance of planting new cypress
trees, especially near human population centres, and trimming of cypress hedges before the pollination season (Charpin et al.,
2005).

Risk and Impact Factors

Invasiveness

Proved invasive outside its native range

Has a broad native range

Abundant in its native range

Highly adaptable to different environments

Is a habitat generalist

Tolerates, or benefits from, cultivation, browsing pressure, mutilation, fire etc

Pioneering in disturbed areas

Highly mobile locally

Benefits from human association (i.e. it is a human commensal)

Long lived

Fast growing

Impact outcomes
 Altered trophic level

Ecosystem change/ habitat alteration

Modification of hydrology

Modification of nutrient regime

Reduced native biodiversity

Soil accretion

Threat to/ loss of native species

Impact mechanisms

Competition - smothering

Rooting

Likelihood of entry/control

Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately

Uses
C. sempervirens is cultivated as an ornamental and timber tree. Its wood is used for furniture, veneer, door frames, and window

frames. Medicinal uses have been reported for its fruits which are used as anthelmintic, antipyretic, antirheumatic, antiseptic,
aromatherapy, astringent, and vasoconstrictor. An essential oil is distilled from the shoots and it is used in perfumery and soap

making. It is also planted as a windbreak in agricultural areas (Vidakovic, 1991; Farjon, 2013; PROTA, 2015). The tree also has
symbolic and social value in Mediterranean areas, and is commonly found in cemeteries.

Uses: Wood Uses

C. sempervirens has a yellow-pink timber with fine grain and irregular growth rings. Wood density is 380-490 kg/m3. It is very

durable, especially in water, does not require preservation, and is not attacked by termites. The timber is successfully used for
posts (once the sapwood is removed), because it is straight and has a high natural durability. Its high stability and mechanical

properties make common cypress very suitable for small carpentry pieces which are required to withstand stress (Thibaut et al.,
1999) and exterior woodwork (e.g. front doors, windows, shutters and even garden furniture), even in humid surroundings. It is

one of the few temperate timbers that is resistant to attack by marine molluscs and is widely used in ship building.

The wood's odour repels numerous harmful insects (particularly mites) and for this reason it has long been used for chests and
wardrobes to store linen and food, as well as for coffins by wealthy noblemen in antiquity. It is easy to glue (producing glued and

laminated frame elements, laminated wood panelling, and glued window framing). Whatever the machining technique used
(planing, milling, drilling, sanding), cypress is an easy wood to work, except for problems with spiral grain knots. It is also very

suitable for wooden sculptures. It is well adapted to machining and finishing despite the high number of knots, because of its fine

grain, homogeneity and low shrinkage unaffected by the highly adherent knots.

Uses: Non-Wood Uses

C. sempervirens has medicinal properties; the cones contain a tannin which has a constricting effect on the vascular system

(Garnier et al., 1961). The effect of 'cypress nuts' is recognized in the treatment of afflictions of the blood system. In France, 18
laboratories produce about 20 pharmaceutical products based on oil of cypress (Andreoli and Xenopoulos, 1999). The perfume

industry utilizes oil of cypress, which has a woody amber smell most appreciated in perfume manufactures for men. An essential
oil may also be extracted from the tips of young branches and immature cones (Garnero et al., 1978).

Uses: Land Uses

C. sempervirens is a multipurpose species which is utilized in protection forest, soil conservation (e.g. in the Greek and Turkish

mountains), to maintain the beauty of the landscape (e.g. Tuscany, Côte d'Azur, Peloponnese), as an ornamental, as a windbreak
(e.g. Val du Rhône, Sardinia, Karystos in Greece) and to re-establish vegetation on abandoned land. C. sempervirens var.

fastigiata is more suitable as an ornamental and as a windbreak, and C. sempervirens var. horizontalis is more suitable for timber
production. The spindle-shaped C. sempervirens var. pyramidalis also has a social function in Mediterranean villages, churches,

and cemeteries because common cypress was once considered a protective and sacred tree. Tests prove that common cypress
has a low flammability and it may be planted as a firebreak. Due to its dense foliage and acidic leaf litter, C. sempervirens var.

horizontalis covers the soil completely, eliminating the heliophilic stratum from its shade and allowing the establishment of a
sciaphilic stratum.
Uses List
General > Ornamental

Environmental > Boundary, barrier or support

Environmental > Erosion control or dune stabilization

Environmental > Revegetation

Environmental > Windbreak

Materials > Essential oils

Materials > Miscellaneous materials

Materials > Poisonous to mammals

Materials > Wood/timber

Medicinal, pharmaceutical > Source of medicine/pharmaceutical

Medicinal, pharmaceutical > Traditional/folklore

Wood Products
Boats

Furniture

Roundwood > Piles

Roundwood > Posts

Sawn or hewn building timbers > Bridges

Sawn or hewn building timbers > Engineering structures

Sawn or hewn building timbers > Exterior fittings

Sawn or hewn building timbers > Fences

Sawn or hewn building timbers > Flooring

Sawn or hewn building timbers > For light construction

Sawn or hewn building timbers > Gates

Sawn or hewn building timbers > Wall panelling

Veneers

Wood-based materials > Laminated veneer lumber

Wood-based materials > Laminated wood

Silviculture Characteristics
C. sempervirens is a quiescent species; it is able to tolerate shallow, rocky, or clayey soils, which become very dry in the summer.

It regenerates quickly when young, showing rapid height growth and a slow increase in diameter. It is suitable for coppicing, is
able to tolerate salt winds, has a well developed root system, and is also a very good pioneer species on abandoned soils. This

species is frost hardy, although natural provenances in Greece and Turkey are more sensitive to frost than populations that have
become naturalized in Italy and France.

Silviculture Characteristics
Tolerates > drought

Tolerates > wind

Tolerates > weeds

Tolerates > salt wind

 Tolerates > termites

Ability to > self-prune

Silviculture Practice
The cones are harvested towards the end of summer and in the autumn. Any old cones should be avoided these can remain on
the tree for as long as 20 years. The cones open when dried in the sun or in kilns at an average temperature of 35-40°C (Giannini

et al., 1999). The seeds are moistened with water for 2-3 days and are kept at a constant temperature of 19°C; germination
requires light and occurs in 20-30 days. Sowing takes place from March-May. One-year-old seedlings are removed from the

seedbed and are transplanted into pots which are filled with a mulch-sand-perlite substrate (3:1:1). Seedlings for planting out are

generally grown in containers (4 seeds per container, but only one seedling is left per container). At the end of the growing
season, the seedlings are 20 cm in height. 1+1 container seedlings are normally used for reforestation. Generally, for rootstocks,

seedlings less than one year old are used. Vegetative propagation is used for multiplication of clones for windbreaks and
ornamental trees. Grafting is the most successful method used in nurseries, and has a 90% success if correctly executed. Side-

veneer grafting is the most successful grafting technique; cleft grafting can also be applied. Propagation of cuttings by rooting is
more problematic than grafting and more expensive. C. sempervirens roots form mycorrhizal associations. C. sempervirens is

planted at various densities depending on the use, i.e. as a shade tree, windbreak or in protection forest (where planting densities
of 600 trees/ha are recommended). For timber production, a density of 1100 trees/ha is planted, and for firebreaks a dense stand

of 2500 trees/ha is used (Riou-Nivert, 1996). C. sempervirens is suitable for pruning and coppicing; however all the wounds
should be disinfected to prevent attack from Seiridium cardinale (Riou-Nivert, 1996).There is much interest in using common

cypress as a forest species in the dry, shallow and clay soils of the Mediterranean, as windbreaks and as an ornamental. In such
soil and climatic conditions, common cypress may compete well with natural vegetation, but for increasing survival it is necessary

to control weeds for at least the first 3 years after planting.

Silviculture Practice
Seed storage > orthodox

Vegetative propagation by > cuttings

Vegetative propagation by > grafting

Stand establishment using > natural regeneration

Stand establishment using > planting stock

Management
Timber production of C. sempervirens is low, i.e. 1-7 cubic metres/ha/year (Riou-Nivert, 1996). However, recent trials in planted
stands in Italy, France, Greece and Spain, common cypress showed high growth potential; in the future it may become more

important (Sales Luis et al., 1999).

Protection
Diseases

The most important disease of C. sempervirens is the coryneum or cypress canker, caused by the fungus Seiridium cardinale.

This fungus invades the bark through wounds and the bark is killed as the fungus spreads. Patches of dead foliage appear in the

crown as the branches die. This fungus was first discovered on ornamental Monterrey cypress, C. macrocarpa, in California in
1928, where it was also causing severe damage (Hepting, 1971). This fungus is presently found throughout the world, wherever

Cupressus spp. are grown. This disease is especially damaging to plantings of C. sempervirens in Italy, Greece and southern
France (Panconesi, 1991, Graniti, 1998) and is managed by sanitation, use of fungicides and genetically resistant strains of C.

sempervirens.

Diplodia pinea f. sp. cupressi causes a disease common in Israel, but is also reported from Greece (Xenopoulos and Tsopelas,
2000) and Morocco (Panconesi et al., 1999). This fungus can be damaging wherever summer drought is a stress factor for

Cupressus sempervirens.

The fungus Phomopsis occulta causes a twig canker and dieback in the nursery, but can also infect young and mature trees
(Mandar and Kimichi, 1998).

Insects
In the Mediterranean Basin, the bark beetles Phloeosinus aubei), P. thujae, and P. armatus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) are vectors of
the fungus, Seiridium cardinale, the cause of cypress canker. Removal of infested branches and/or infested trees is one of the

pest management tactics used to reduce losses by this disease.

The cypress aphid, Cinara cupressi sensu lato (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is an important pest of several species of Cupressus,
including C. sempervirens. This insect probably has its origins in the Near East and western Asia and its most likely natural host is

C. sempervirens, to which it occasionally causes damage. This insect has been introduced into portions of Europe where C.
sempervirens is widely planted and into eastern and southern Africa and South America, where it is damaging to other species of

Cupressus (Ciesla, 1991; Watson et al., 1999).

The Eriophyid mite, Trisetacus juniperinus (Acari: Phytopidae), colonizes the foliage at the tips of twigs of several species of
Cupressus and Juniperus, including C. sempervirens and causes swelling of the leaf bases and destruction of the apical bud. This

causes stunting of the plant and the development of numerous side-shoots, giving them a bushy appearance (Nuzzaci and

Monaco, 1977). Cones of C. sempervirens may be also be killed by this mite (Castagnoli, et al, 1998).

Genetic Resources and Breeding

Provenance tests have been established in Greece, Italy and France (Ponchet, 1990), and have been subjected to comparative
field tests. Greek and Turkish natural provenances were compared with progenies from naturalized seed plantations. Natural

populations were found to be more variable than introduced and ornamental clones. The spreading crown shape is dominant in

natural populations, while fastigiate and intermediate trees come from hybridization with introduced fastigiate trees. As regards
bark canker resistance, extensive selection studies have been conducted in Italy and France, testing material derived from natural

and naturalized populations and from controlled crosses. Resistant individuals were found (Raddi and Panconesi, 1977; Raddi,
1979; Pichot et al., 1999). Major breeding programmes are researching cypress canker resistance in Italy, France and Greece.

Very good results have been obtained: canker resistant clones, multiclonal varieties resistant to S. cardinale attacks and suitable
for windbreaks have been obtained by selective breeding (Raddi, 1979; Raddi et al., 1990; Xenopoulos, 1990), and mother trees

have been characterized for their general and specific combining abilities (Raddi and Panconesi, 1989). Clonal seed orchards
with the best mother trees have been established in Italy, France and Greece (Pichot et al., 1999).As regards frost hardiness,

progenies derived from trees selectively bred in naturalized plantations showed a higher tolerance to frost that those from the
natural range. Variability of hardiness was found among and within families (Raddi and Panconesi, 1989). As regards the crown

shape, controlled crosses carried out in France, Italy and Greece on spreading, fastigiate and intermediate trees will provide

information on the effectiveness of procedures to select for crown shape (Pichot et al., 1999). Hybrid seeds between several
species of Cupressus and C. sempervirens have been obtained, but only hybrids between C. sempervirens (female) and C.

dupreziana (male) have been successfully grown (Raddi et al., 1990). Other hybrid progenies have been produced in the last few
years, but they must still be tested for their paternity by gene marker techniques.Conservation of the genetic resources of C.

sempervirens is achieved in situ by increasing regeneration in natural areas and ex situ by setting up collection-archives with
progenies derived from seed collected in natural and naturalized areas (Pichot et al., 1999).

Disadvantages
Establishment of C. sempervirens plantations is still restricted by attacks from Seiridium cardinale, but resistant multiclonal
varieties are now available on the market. In some environments, C. sempervirens may become an aggressive colonizer.

Links to Websites

Name URL Comment

Gymnosperm Database - Cupressus sempervierens http://www.conifers.org/cu/Cupressus_sempervirens.php

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References

Acevedo-Rodríguez P, Strong MT, 2012. Catalogue of the Seed Plants of the West Indies. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany, 98:1192 pp.
Washington DC, USA: Smithsonian Institution. http://botany.si.edu/Antilles/WestIndies/catalog.htm
Google Scholar

Allemand P, 1979. Relations phylogeniques dans le genre Cupressus (Cupressaceae). In: Grasso V, Raddi P, eds. Il Cipresso: malattie e difesa.
L'artigiano, Firenze, 51-67.

Go to Citation Google Scholar

Andreoli C, Xenopulos S, 1990. Use of cypress. In: Progress in EEC research on cypress diseases. EUR 12493, Eu, 14-25.
Google Scholar

Belov M, 2009. Chileflora. Online resource for Cupressus sempervirens.

http://www.chileflora.com/Florachilena/FloraEnglish/HighResPages/EH1077.htm

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