4 Monterey Cypress

Scientific Name – Cupressus macrocarpa

Monterey Cypress occurs naturally in only two groves – Cypress Point and Point Lobos on Monterey Bay on the central coast of California and is now almost extinct in the wild. It is however wildly grown in many in many parks, gardens and churchyards in Ireland and the UK while it was widely used as a hedging plant before the advent of Leyland Cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii) of which it is a parent.

The bark of young trees is brown with shallow ridges which lift away when the bark turns grey in older specimens. It is a very fast growing tree, especially in coastal areas where it can reach a height of 30m in 40 years. Young trees are columnar with a conical top while older trees are spread with a flat top and long, level branches. In Ireland multi-stemmed trees often occur. The needles have a lemon scent when crushed.

1.Cedrus libani (Cedar of Lebanon)
2.Fagus sylvatica 'Heterophylla' (Cut leaf beech)
3.Larix decidua (European larch)
4.Cupressus Macrocarpa (Monterey cypress)
5.Thuja plicata (Western red cedar)
6.Luma apiculata (Chilean myrtle)
7.Chamaecyparis pisifera (Swara cypress)
8.Tsuga dumosa (Himalayan hemlock)* Champion
9.Cupressus macrocarpa 'Lutea'(Goldn monterey cypress)
10.Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine)
11.Cedrus libani (Cedar of Lebanon)
12.Quercus ilex (Holm oak)
13.Cryptomeria Japonica 'Elegans' (Japanese cedar)
14.Thujopsis dolobrata (Hiba)
15.Pinus gordoniana (White pine)
16.Sequoia sempervirens (Coast redwood)*Champion
17.Thuja standishii(Japanses arbor-vitae)
18.Sequoi sempervirens(Coast redwood)*Champion
19.Pinus montezumae 'hartwegii' (Mexican pine)
20.Sequoiadendron giganteum (Giant redwood)
21.Sequoiadendron giganteum (Giant redwood)
22.Picea orientalis (Oriental spruce)
23.Fagus sylvatica 'pendula' (Weeping Irish Beech)
24.Cupressus lusitanica bethamii(Bentham cypress)

The trees listed *Champion are considered to be among the finest of their species to be found in Europe