Monterey Cypress

Cupressus macrocarpa at Woodstock House

Digital Photograph of the bark of a Monterey Cypress at Woodstock House taken in Woodstock Estate, Inistioge, County Kilkenny

Cupressus macrocarpa at Woodstock House

Digital Photograph of the bark of a Monterey Cypress at Woodstock House taken in Woodstock Estate, Inistioge, County Kilkenny

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Common Name: Monterey Cypress

Description: This cypress can grow up to 25m in height with a wide spreading crown. The foliage is dark green with a rough bark. The cones are small, ovoid, grayish brown, , the seeds are dark brown.

Origin: The species has a very limited natural distribution around Carmel and Monterey in California. It occurs naturally with the similarly limited Monterey pine.

Fossil evidence would suggest that it once was much more widespread. The species seems to rely on fire to open its cones and disperse its seeds.

Curiously it has attained much greater heights often exceeding 40m in both the British Isles and New Zealand. It was widely planted in Ireland as a screening tree due to its tolerance of wind. It was introduced around 1838. It has largely being superseded in this role by Cupressocyparis Leylandii – Leyland Cypress in this role in recent years. Interestingly it is one of the parents of
the Leyland Cypress.

The specimen in Woodstock is 18.4M in height.