Cupressus lusitanica Seeds | Mexican Cypress
LATIN NAME: Cupressus lusitanica
COMMON NAME: Mexican Cypress, Cedar of Goa
Plant Profile
Known to gardeners as Mexican Cypress, Cupressus lusitanica is a conifer in the cypress family. The Mexican cypress is a tall, elegant evergreen of mild highlands, its slender, slightly weeping crown giving it a graceful, columnar presence that has made it a favourite for avenues and parks. It grows as a conifer of cypress family, reaching considerable height in good conditions, with fine, scale-like, grey-green foliage that carries a soft, aromatic scent when crushed. Small, rounded cones ripen through winter and release many tiny seeds, and bark is smooth and grey-brown, peeling in thin strips on older trees. The flowers pull in pollinating insects, which quietly widens its usefulness in the garden. For the gardener, the sum of these traits is a plant that is easy to live with.
Science & Biotechnology
As part of the cypress family, Cupressus lusitanica contributes to research on plant classification and adaptation, while nurseries and gardeners continue to trial it for cultivation. The Mexican cypress has a real and distinguished place in the research. It retains a following among breeders and collectors, which keeps seed stocks in circulation.
Uses & Benefits
Mexican Cypress brings genuine presence to the garden and earns its keep across the growing season. Ecologically, the Mexican cypress is a generous tree of the garden. Its dense, conical crown gives a fine shelter to birds, and its fine, aromatic foliage gives a soft, pleasing cover, while its small, rounded cones feed seed-eating birds of the region. Its slender, dark green columns line avenues of mild towns, giving a quiet dignity to the street. A plant that has settled in will get along with only routine care.
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
Starting Mexican Cypress from seed is simple and satisfying. Use a loose, well-drained seed compost, sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly, and keep everything evenly moist in full sun. Shift the seedlings into small pots as soon as they can be handled, and give them bright light until planting-out time.
Our Take
Being a conifer, it asks for a permanent spot and repays it yearly. Mexican Cypress, Cedar of Goa has real presence in the garden without demanding much in return. Beginners will find it patient of imperfect technique.
Related Reading
Gardeners who grow Mexican Cypress often pair it with these related subjects: