Sun; evergreen. The classical Italian cypress grows like an exclamation point in the landscape. It’s useful as a specimen or along driveways; it can also be used to soften hard angles. In ideal circumstances and perfect well-drained soil conditions, it can tolerate hot, dry summers. However, these conditions are hit-or-miss in the San Antonio area, and even full-grown specimens suffer in extreme cold; many were lost in the extreme freezes of 2021.
Italian cypress suffers when drainage is poor; soil amendments like compost at the time of planting can help, especially in heavy clay soils, but long-term, preventing root rot requires avoiding excessive soil moisture. Avoid piling mulch and soil in direct contact with the trunk, and make sure to expose the root flare — this is part of the trunk, not the root, and should be exposed to air.
