Leyland Cypress
Cupressus × leylandii
A fast, sterile hybrid planted everywhere as a quick privacy screen, easily adding 3 ft a year. Over-planted and short-lived: shallow roots blow over, and crowded rows are plagued by seiridium and bot cankers plus bagworms.
Field reference
Family
Cupressaceae
Growth rate
Fast
Mature size
40–60 ft tall, 15–25 ft spread
Hardiness zone
6–10
Soil preference
Well-drained soils; intolerant of soggy ground, which invites root rot
Sun
Full sun
Pruning window
Shear in late spring or summer; will not regrow from bare old wood
Wood properties
Light, fast-grown softwood with shallow roots. Dense plumes catch wind; the shallow plate and rapid height make windthrow and whole-tree failure common on screens.
Native range
Hybrid (Cupressus macrocarpa × Xanthocyparis nootkatensis) of garden origin
Green weight
35 lb/ft³
Pests & diseases to watch
Common questions
Why are whole branches of my Leyland turning brown?
Sudden brown branches on Leyland cypress are usually seiridium or botryosphaeria canker, which thrive on drought-stressed, crowded plantings. Prune out cankered limbs well below the sunken lesion and water deeply during dry spells.
Can I cut Leyland cypress back to reduce its height?
Only into green growth — it will not resprout from bare brown wood. Topping a Leyland leaves permanent dead stubs, so it is better to maintain size with light annual shearing or to replace an oversized screen.
Related species in Cupressaceae
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