Cupressus, Lemon Cypress, Monterey Cypress 'Goldcrest'

Much hardier than the non-cultivar variety. Main difference between goldcrest and the original is the height and foliage colour, goldcres...Read Moret stays smaller and grows naturally in pyramidal form while the original species can grow into tall trees. If you grow multiple specimens closer together you get a more bushy growth habit. The original species is much hardier when mature due to thick trunk in treeform but usually fails when planted small.

Hardiness varies...some succumb during -8C or -10C and other specimens could tolerate up to -18C. I planted mine in a large tub and survived a night of -18C with significant damage altho it recovered following summer. The following year i used christmas lights (no burlap just lights)and it survived similar temperatures without damage. Burlap or plastic could also work you can easily wrap it without damage.

The main 2 pet hates are waterlogged soil and dry winds during low freezing temperatures. In windy sites the foliage gets easily burned, it doesn't have problems with high air humidity in winter. It needs sufficient moisture during summer growth stagnates during droughy it may go dormant. It does better in fertile soils i wouldn't class this one as a drought tolerant poor soil conifer. It's less hardy in waterlogged soils during winter especially clay soils. It needs lots of sun just like palm trees they are hardier when they have maximum sun hours

Indoors it doesn't look that good due to its growth habit, bushy plants are simply more attractive. It does look good when combined with dark/red leafed bromelia like vrisea splendens/ coleus/begonia indoors or other dark leaved ground covers outside like heuchera red or ajuga reptans atropurpea. Contrast is key. Very insect resistent no aphids mites or mealy bugs. Indoors it dislikes heating or too dry air it grows faster outside compared to inside. The growth rate can be pretty fast in fertile soil and maximum sun it can double its size in one year as long it's not rootbound when rootbound it slows significantly. full sun is important for foliage colour.

The foliage smells like lemon rind and the plant is hisorically used for artheritis or gout. I think goldcrest is the best smelling conifer/cypres but unfortunately not as strong as turpentine pines but i could imagine how great it would be to walk through a macrocarpa or goldcrest forest.

Personally i would try other tropical pines indoors like pinus canariensis those can stand dry air and fierce sun. Biggest advantage of goldcrest is that you can always plant it outside.

I would rate it zone 7A when avoiding wind and waterlogging...wrapped or mature specimen could survive zone 6AB especially with snow cover. In zone 6 i do recommend protecting it first few years.

I was just given one of these as a gift and learning how to grow it outside hopefully.
I'm in Pittsburgh, zone 6b.

...Read More redhead3kids in Port Alberni, BC, Canada commented here that is growing it with success and said they are zone 6-7.
I thought that was zone 8b ?

Has anyone successfully grown these outside in zone 6b?

Thank you Mogheller for info in Berlin and how the plant survived -10c. That info give me hope that mine will survive in Pittsburgh.

I bought this plant approx 5 yrs ago and it was about 4 in tall. Planted it outside and it is now about 10 ft tall and beautiful. I live ...Read Morein Port Alberni, BC, Canada and my zone is 6-7. Have never protected it from the cold. It is truly beautiful.

Introduced to Egypt 10 years ago . Sold in many nurseries now , propagated by cuttings . Growth season in our winter ,new foliage beautif...Read Moreul yellowish , very invasive roots detrimental to trees within a 40 yard radius .