Cupressus duclouxiana Seeds | Chinese Cypress
LATIN NAME: Cupressus duclouxiana
COMMON NAME: Chinese Cypress, Yunnan Cypress
Plant Profile
Cupressus duclouxiana, commonly known as Chinese Cypress, is a tree, native to Yunnan and Sichuan in China, it is a tough, sun-loving tree that tolerates heat, drought and poor, alkaline soil. Bark is grey-brown and fibrous, peeling in long strips, and small, round cones ripen from green to brown and persist on branches for years. Unlike its coastal relative the Monterey cypress, it is a tree of dry, rocky valleys and limestone slopes, where its deep roots and drought tolerance allow it to thrive in places where few other trees can grow. Its open flowers are a reliable stop for bees and other pollinating visitors. All of this makes Chinese Cypress a satisfying plant to grow and to get to know.
Science & Biotechnology
Botanists studying the Cupressus group regularly include Cupressus duclouxiana in comparative work, and the species also appears in horticultural trials aimed at gardeners and growers. It is studied as part of conifer flora of southwest China, a region of remarkable plant diversity, and researchers have examined its populations in wild, its seed biology and its conservation status. Continuing work by breeders and collectors keeps good seed of this species moving through the trade.
Uses & Benefits
In the garden, Chinese Cypress earns its place in borders, containers and mixed plantings, and it also rewards growers who raise plants for cutting, drying or kitchen use. Ecologically, the Yunnan cypress is a valuable tree. Its economic value rests on timber and ornament. Wood is a fine-grained, aromatic and durable, used for construction, joinery and temple building, and tree is grown widely as an ornamental in gardens, parks and avenues, valued for its neat form and evergreen foliage. Once it has its roots down, it more or less looks after itself.
Cypress gives durable scented timber and an essential oil used in aromatherapy for its clean, coniferous character; the cones appear in Mediterranean folk astringent remedies.
Growing from Seed
Chinese Cypress grows readily from seed. Growing Yunnan cypress from seed is straightforward and gives good results. Small seeds sit inside woody cones, which open to release them in autumn. Sow the seed evenly over the surface and cover lightly, using a loose, well-drained seed compost, and keep it just moist in full sun until the seedlings are well up. Shift the seedlings into small pots as soon as they can be handled, and give them bright light until planting-out time.
Our Take
Chinese Cypress repays a little patience at sowing time with plenty of garden presence later.
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