This handsome European cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) is a native in southern Europe and western Asia. His columnar form reaches to the sky in his native land to 40-60' feet. His stately elegant and narrow appearance makes it a beloved garden punctuation point in classical Italian gardens during the Renaissance. When crushed, the dark grayish-green foliage has an aromatic fragrance, making it an excellent holiday accent indoors or outside in zones 7-10. He grows to 15 ft. tall and 5 ft. wide at maturity outdoors.
European Cypress Indoor Care & Buying Guide
Indoors: Place in bright, direct light in a southern facing window. Turn your cypress every week a half turn to get light on each side. Outdoors: Place in full sun (6-8 hours) of sun daily.
Keep consistently moist during the spring and summer. Let the soil dry a bit more in the winter months but still stay consistently lightly moist. If the needles turn yellow and drop, check the soil's moisture and humidity levels.
Indoors: Keep your cypress on a pebble tray or near other plants to keep the humidity near 50%.
Daytime temps should be between 60°F-77°F and nighttime temperatures can fluctuate between 50 and 60°F.
Hardy outdoors in USDA zones 7 to 10, down to about 0°F.
Apply a balanced fertilizer at half-strength in the spring and fall during the growing season.
Indoors: When receiving the European Cypress, do not repot immediately but wait at least 6-12 months or if the roots are beginning to get crowded and growing through the drainage holes. Repot this little guy in the spring, using a 2 inches bigger pot to keep the roots drier. (Too big of a planter could cause the soil to dry slower.) Place a piece of screening at the bottom of the container over the drainage hole to secure the soil and allow it to drain. Fill in around your container and the bottom with equal parts of sterilized potting soil, coconut coir, and sand or perlite, with one tablespoon of bone meal to encourage root growth. Water your plant in the old pot before transferring over and let it sit overnight. Add well-draining interior potting soil to the bottom to elevate the root ball. Lift the plant and release the roots against the existing planter. Use a clean knife or garden trowel to wedge between the pot and the soil to loosen. Inspect the root ball. Notice if there are any dead or rotting roots and trim them off with sterile pruners. Ensure the plant is sitting about 1 inch below the edge of the pot to avoid water spillage. Add more soil and backfill around the sides by tamping down. Fill up to the soil line but not over. Do not water again until the soil is registering three or four on the plant meter. If soil settling occurs after watering, add more periodically but do not cover the trunk above the surface. Outdoors: Dig a hole twice the width of the grower pot and slightly shorter in depth of the grower pot. Add root hormone and mix in compost if your soil is unhealthy or clay (half compost-half native soil). This plant prefers acidic soil at a pH range between 5.5 and 6.0. (Use our 3 in 1 plant meter to measure!) Water the bare roots in the hole, then fill with the mixed soil. Tamp around the tree to release all air pockets. Water again. Keep watch and measure your soil moisture every couple of days to ensure the roots are moist but not soggy. Plant the tree in full (6-8 hours) to part sun (4-6).
Remove any dead, damaged, or diseased limbs, but this little guy is low maintenance and usually won't need any pruning.
Remove hardwood cuttings during the growing season between July and September. To propagate, cut a long branch off the bottom of the tree near the roots at a 45° angle to create a larger cut surface for rooting. Then, cut this branch into 6 inch long sections. Strip the needles off the cutting about 2-3 inches and dip the cut ends of the stems in rooting hormone. Plant in moist, well-draining potting mix and clean, coarse sand with the lower half of the stem fully covered. Keep the soil moisture consistently moist but never soggy. Cover the stems with a clear plastic bag loosely to create humidity around the plant. Keep in a morning sun location to get the roots established. Please protect it from hot sunlight mid-day, cold winds, or freezing temperatures that disrupt the rooting growth. Let the roots mature and new growth established before transplanting into the ground or another pot. Rooting may take several months to establish.
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European Cypress Christmas Tree: Overview
The European Cypress Tree (Cupressus sempervirens), also known as the Italian or Mediterranean Cypress, is a popular potted Christmas tree with a classic conical shape and lush, feathery green foliage. It belongs to the Cupressaceae family and is known for its stately beauty and versatility as both an indoor and outdoor plant. This tree thrives in USDA hardiness zones 7-10, growing up to 3-5 feet indoors and even taller when planted outdoors.
The European Cypress is a low-maintenance plant that symbolizes peace and eternal life, making it a meaningful holiday decoration. While not pet-friendly due to its mild toxicity, it’s perfect for homes without pets unless placed safely out of reach.
For more festive choices, consider other mini Christmas tree options like the charming Lemon Cypress Tree, which brings a burst of bright green and a citrusy scent to your holiday decor.
European Cypress: Benefits
- Releases a fresh, aromatic scent when you brush the foliage
- As festive decor, it makes a stunning centerpiece for seasonal celebrations
- It requires minimal maintenance, making it perfect for busy households
- As a long-lasting live potted Christmas tree, it makes a sustainable alternative to fresh-cut trees, offering joy year after year
- You can plant it outdoors after the holidays for continued enjoyment
Your European Cypress, During and After the Holidays
Our European cypress arrives as a Small tree in a 4-inch grower pot, or dressed in an Eco Pot (Coconut, Earl Grey, Chai, or Macadamia) or a light basket. Treat it as a tabletop living Christmas tree: add mini lights and a few light ornaments, and include a gift note in the cart to send it as a holiday gift.
After the holidays, take off the decorations and keep it in your sunniest window, away from heat vents and drafts. Water when the top inch of soil starts to dry, since dry soil is the most common cause of browning. In spring, move it outside a few hours a day for a week or two, then plant it in full sun in USDA zones 7 to 10 or keep it on a sunny patio in a larger pot.
Find more potted Christmas trees, send a fresh-cut Christmas tree, or browse the holiday collection.
European Cypress Christmas Tree: Placement, Companion & Alternative Plants
The European Cypress Christmas Tree adds a festive charm to any space, whether it’s your home or office. Pair it with fresh holiday greenery like a Holiday Wreath, Fresh Cedar Garland, Cedar Centerpiece, or Candle Ring to create a truly magical seasonal display. Explore our full collection of holiday plants for more decor ideas.
Best Locations & Uses
- Perfect for festive decoration during the holiday season, adding a vibrant, evergreen touch
- It makes a stunning centerpiece plant for the living room at Christmas
- An ideal compact potted Christmas tree for small spaces or apartments
- Can be placed outdoors after the holidays, thriving in colder climates
- Best suited for homes without pets, as it’s not pet-friendly
Companion Plants
Pair your European Cypress tree with these holiday-perfect plants to create a festive and vibrant indoor display:
- Mistletoe Cactus (Rhipsalis baccifera): The Mistletoe Cactus is a unique cascading plant that complements the upright elegance of your Mediterranean Cypress while adding a modern, natural holiday vibe.
- Red Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima): The Christmas Flower is a classic holiday favorite with bold red leaves, perfect for enhancing seasonal decor alongside your Christmas tree.
- Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum): The Peace Lily is a versatile, low-maintenance plant with graceful white blooms that balance the rich green tones of your Cypress.
Alternative Plants
If you’re looking for other festive options, consider these stunning alternatives at Lively Root.
- Norfolk Island Pine Christmas Tree (Araucaria heterophylla): The Norfolk Island Pine is a soft-needled potted tree that adds an elegant touch to holiday decor and transitions beautifully as a year-round houseplant.
- Leyland Cypress Christmas Tree (Cupressus x leylandii): The Leyland Cypress is a compact, fragrant Christmas tree, ideal for both indoor festivities and outdoor planting after the season.
- Rosemary Christmas Tree (Rosmarinus officinalis): The Rosemary Christmas Tree is a charming, aromatic topiary, which can be decorated with holiday lights and doubles as a culinary herb.
Order a European Cypress Christmas Tree From Lively Root
Bring home a European cypress this season, a living Christmas tree you can decorate now and plant outdoors later. Explore more holiday plants.
