Plant Library

Other Names:  Totem Pole Italian Cypress

Description:

A superior, extremely thin selection that is more resistant to ice and snow; attractive, dense foliage is deep forest green; a fast rising spire that makes a wonderful container specimen or a dramatic accent on the landscape

Ornamental Features

Totem Italian Cypress is primarily valued in the landscape for its rigidly columnar form. It has attractive forest green evergreen foliage. The scale-like sprays of foliage are highly ornamental and remain forest green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Totem Italian Cypress is a dense evergreen tree with a strong central leader and a narrowly upright and columnar growth habit. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which can make it a great accent feature on this basis alone.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Totem Italian Cypress is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Vertical Accent
• Hedges/Screening
• Windbreaks and Shelterbelts

Planting & Growing

Totem Italian Cypress will grow to be about 16 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 inches. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 years or more.

This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.