The Lemon Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa 'Goldcrest'), also known as Goldcrest cypress, is a compact conifer with green-yellow, needle-like foliage and a fresh citrus scent. Indoors it usually stays under 3 feet, and its cone shape makes it a ready-made mini Christmas tree. Looking for more holiday greenery? Shop our Holiday Wreath or Fresh Cedar Garland.
Lemon Cypress Care & Buying Guide
Indoors: Bright direct light for 6-8 hours. Outdoors: full sun in Zones 7-10.
Water when the top 2 inches of soil is dry.
Spritz regularly and keep on top of a pebble tray filled with water.
Keep temperatures in the low 60's inside the house in the winter months to prevent browning leaves.
Outdoors in full sun (6 to 8 hours) in USDA zones 7 to 10, where winter nights stay above about 5°F. Indoors, give it a sunny southern window and keep winter temperatures in the low 60s.
Interior: Apply a balanced, liquid fertilizer especially formulated for indoor plants every month during the growing season. Exterior: Add a 20-20-20 granular slow release fertilizer to the top surface. When they are watered, the nutrients will release into the soil. Fertilize throughout the growing season and refrain in the winter.
When receiving the Lemon Cypress, do not repot immediately but wait at least 6-12 months. Repot in the spring, using a 2" bigger pot to keep the roots drier. (Too big of a planter could cause the soil to dry slower, which is not helpful.)
Hydrate the plant before repotting.
Place a piece of screening at the bottom of the container over the drainage hole to secure the soil and allow to drain.
Use a well-draining potting mix to repot when the plant becomes root-bound.
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 roots. Notice if there are any dead or rotting roots and trim 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.
Water thoroughly, leaving the soil damp but not soggy. If settling occurs, add more soil.
Water well to dampen the soil and let drain.
Prune or shape up your Lemon Cypress with sharp, sterilized pruners in the growing season. Trim off unwanted growth or to add bushiness to your tree with branching. Be aware that where you trim, the edges will turn brown. This browning is expected but will quickly cover-up by new growth that emerges. Clean up any debris on the soil surface and replenish soil when needed.
Take cuttings from healthy young stems and cut about 6 inches down the stem. Cut right below the leaf node and strip away the leaves on two sets of nodes. Dip the tip of the stem into a rooting hormone and set them into a damp propagation mix. Water to keep the mixture moist but not soggy. Keep the cuttings in bright, sunny light out of breezes. The warmer the weather, the faster the roots will grow. After eight weeks, a stable root system should be developing. Transplant these cuttings into an organic well-draining potting mix. Add a slow-release fertilizer and continue to let them grow. Once a healthy root system is created, transplant out into the landscape or into a planter.
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Lemon Cypress (Goldcrest Cypress): Overview
The Lemon Cypress Christmas Tree (Cupressus macrocarpa) is an adorable evergreen conifer with lime green, flexible, needle-like foliage that gives off a delicate citrus scent. The Lemon Cypress is native to California and belongs to the Cupressaceae family. Also known as Goldcrest Cypress, it is a cultivar of the Monterey Cypress. This beautiful mini cypress is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 7-10 and tolerates winter lows down to about 5°F.
Many people wonder how big lemon cypress trees get. While a large tree in the wild, an indoor Lemon Cypress tree usually grows to only about 3 ft. tall, making a charming mini Christmas tree. While not a Lemon Cypress bonsai, clipped and pruned to resemble a tiny tree, this conifer mirrors the shape of a full-sized Christmas tree, growing into a bushy, conical shape. This gorgeous evergreen plant is easy to care for and thrives in full sun. The Lemon Cypress tree symbolizes immortality, renewal, hope, and longevity, giving it a meaningful and thoughtful message when given as a gift.
As lovely as it is Lemon Cypress is toxic to cats and dogs, so it’s best to keep it out of their reach or choose a pet-friendly alternative. If you want a small tree this holiday season, explore our mini Christmas tree options, including the graceful and pet-safe Rosemary Christmas Tree.
Lemon Cypress Tree: Benefits
- Bright chartreuse color that lasts long after the holidays
- Perfect for festive décor during the holidays
- Easy to care for and beginner-friendly
- Foliage with delicate lemony fragrance
- Unlike a fresh-cut Christmas tree, it’s a lasting live potted Christmas tree that will bring joy for many holiday seasons
Lemon Cypress as a Living Christmas Tree
Our Lemon Cypress arrives as a Medium tree in a 6-inch grower pot, or in an Eco Pot (Coconut, Earl Grey, Chai, or Macadamia). Its natural cone shape makes it a ready-made small live Christmas tree: string it with mini lights, keep ornaments light so the soft branches do not bend, and add a gift note in the cart to send it as a holiday gift.
When the season ends, keep it in your sunniest window and away from heat vents, and water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry. A cool room in the low 60s and a pebble tray help prevent browning. In spring it can move outdoors to full sun, and in USDA zones 7 to 10 it can be planted in the ground.
Shop more potted Christmas trees, send a fresh-cut Christmas tree, or browse the holiday collection.
Lemon Cypress Christmas Tree: Placement, Companion & Alternative Plants
A dwarf Lemon Cypress tree makes a spectacular holiday plant for your home or office; combine it with other fresh Christmas greenery, like our Holiday Wreath, Fresh Cedar Garland, Cedar Centerpiece, or Candle Ring for a complete festive look.
Best Locations & Uses
- Beautiful and small potted Christmas tree for festive decoration
- Perfect centerpiece plant for your living room
- Ideal for outdoor placement after the holiday season in warmer climates
- Ideal for people without pets
- Great holiday gift plant with long-lasting value
Companion Plants
Consider these beautiful holiday plants to decorate your space this holiday season:
- Pink Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii): The magnificent Pink Christmas Cactus is a tropical succulent plant with salmon pink blooms and flat, segmented leaves that store water, making it a perfect low-maintenance plant.
- Red Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima): A beloved traditional Christmas plant, the Red Poinsettia stands out in any setting with its bright red, joyful flowers that resemble a star.
- Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum): A popular indoor flower, the delicately scented Peace Lily is an easy-care plant, known for its excellent air-filtering properties.
Alternative Plants
Other beautiful small Christmas trees to consider for your holidays include:
- Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla): A popular alternative to a traditional Christmas tree, the Norfolk Island Pine Christmas Tree is charming and easy to care for; its feathery branches give off a festive pine scent.
- Leyland Cypress Christmas Tree (Cupressus x leylandii): The beautiful Leyland Cypress Christmas Tree is pet-friendly and low-maintenance, and its rich green foliage makes a gorgeous backdrop for festive décor.
- European Cypress Christmas Tree (Cupressus sempervirens): Native to the Mediterranean region, the fabulous European Cypress Christmas Tree has dark green foliage and an elegant, column-like shape.
Order Your Lemon Cypress Christmas Tree From Lively Root
Looking for a lemon cypress tree for sale? Order a living Lemon Cypress Christmas tree for delivery to your door, or send one as a holiday gift. Explore more holiday plants.
