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Cupressus x leylandii 'Better Green'

$300.00

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Size: 45L

25cm 45L 50cm 100L 150L

Current Stock Height Guides

25cm: 1.3m - 1.5m Approx.
50cm: Enquire within for height guide information.
100L: 2.1m - 2.5m Approx.
150L: Enquire within for height guide information.

Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you mustconfirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 10m to 20m (approx.)

Mature Width: 5m to 8m

Cupressus x leylandii 'Better Green' is expected to grow 60cm to 100cm per year (approx.).

Root Ball Dimensions

Use this as a reference when digging your planting hole. We recommend digging at least 10% wider than the dimensions below to encourage strong root development.

30cm Pot: 33cm (W) × 30cm (D)
40cm/45L Pot: 44cm (W) × 41.5cm (D)
50cm Pot / 70L Pot: 55cm (W) × 41.8cm (D)
100L Bag: 50.6cm (W) × 52.8cm (D)
150L Bag: 66cm (W) × 55cm (D)
200L Bag: 71.5cm (W) × 60.5cm (D)
300L Bag: 88cm (W) × 63.8cm (D)
400L Bag: 99cm (W) × 66cm (D)
500L Bag: 122cm (W) × 66cm (D)
750L Bag: 134cm (W) × 69cm (D)
1000L Bag: 146.3cm (W) × 71.5cm (D)
2000L Bag: 176cm (W) × 82.5cm (D)

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Shipping

Shipping is calculated at checkout based on the pallet space your order occupies in the truck and your delivery location.

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Contact

Have a question or a list to send through to us?

Email: sales@evergreentrees.com.au

Phone: (03) 7042 3318

About Your New Cupressus x leylandii 'Better Green'

Cupressus leylandii 'Better Green', commonly known as Better Green Leyland Cypress, is an improved and reliable alternative to traditional Leighton Green. Engineered for faster growth, a tighter form, and, most importantly, high resistance to cypress canker, it's a standout choice for long-term hedging, screening, and windbreaks in residential, rural, and commercial landscapes.

Growing 15-20 metres tall with a narrow spread of 3-4 metres, Better Green forms a dense, upright columnar screen ideal for privacy hedging, boundary planting, or shelterbelts. Its lush, rich green foliage remains vibrant year-round and responds well to pruning, making shape and size control easy.

Thriving in full sun to part shade, it tolerates wind, salt spray, drought, and urban pollution, while adapting well to most well-drained soil types. Once established, this cultivar is low maintenance and delivers fast, dependable screening wherever it's planted.

Perfect for privacy hedging, windbreaks, boundary screening, and large feature rows, Better Green combines speed, durability, and disease resistance for superior landscape performance.

Better Green or Leighton Green? Better Green is the improved Leyland Cypress, selected for faster growth, a tighter columnar form, and high resistance to cypress canker. The original Leighton Green is slightly more budget-friendly and equally fast but more prone to canker disease. Choose Better Green for long-term performance and Leighton Green for short-term screening where cost is the priority.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Cupressus leylandii 'Better Green'

How tall does Better Green grow?

Better Green grows to 15-20 metres tall with a narrow spread of 3-4 metres, making it ideal for tall privacy hedging and windbreaks.

How fast does Better Green grow?

Better Green is one of Australia's fastest-growing privacy hedges, putting on 1-1.5 metres per year once established.

What is the difference between Better Green and Leighton Green?

Better Green is an improved Leyland Cypress cultivar with faster growth, a tighter form, and high resistance to cypress canker. Leighton Green is the original cultivar, slightly cheaper but more susceptible to canker disease.

Is Better Green disease resistant?

Yes. Better Green was specifically selected for high resistance to cypress canker, which is the main disease affecting traditional Leyland Cypress hedges in Australia.

How far apart should I plant Better Green for a hedge?

Plant 80cm-1.2 metres apart for a dense, fast-establishing privacy screen.

Does Better Green tolerate coastal conditions?

Yes. Better Green tolerates wind, salt spray, and coastal exposure once established, making it a strong choice for coastal properties.

How do I prune Better Green?

Trim lightly two to three times a year from spring through to early autumn, keeping every cut within the green outer growth. Like most conifers, Better Green will not reshoot from bare brown wood, so avoid cutting back into the older interior. Begin shaping while the hedge is young and it will stay dense and easy to hold at the height you want.

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

Enriched Planting Mix is a certified organic blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent, bagged in 30L. It is built to be dug through existing garden soil at planting time rather than used on its own, and the gypsum is what sets it apart from a plain compost.

Gypsum helps break up heavy clay so water and roots can move through it, while the compost and manure return organic matter and nutrient to tired ground. The coarse bark holds structure and keeps air around the root zone, and the wetting agent keeps moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering.

Use it when planting trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees and exotic garden plants, particularly into clay. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and 7 centimetres deeper, then mix roughly one third planting mix through the excavated soil. Spread 7 centimetres of that improved soil in the base before setting the plant in.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Enriched Planting Mix

What is Enriched Planting Mix made from?

It is a blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent. Each part has a job. The compost and manure supply organic matter and nutrient, the gypsum works on clay structure, the bark keeps air around the roots and the wetting agent holds moisture in the soil.

What plants is it suitable for?

It suits exotic garden plants, including roses, ornamental and deciduous trees, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials, and it earns its keep most on heavy clay sites. It is a planting mix rather than a potting mix, so its job is improving soil at planting time. Phosphorus sensitive natives are the one clear exception.

Is it safe for natives?

No, not for the phosphorus sensitive ones. The composted animal manure in this blend lifts phosphorus well above what Proteaceae such as Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea and Protea will tolerate, and the result can be leaf burn, dieback and plant death. Use the Native Potting Mix for those species, or plant them into unimproved local soil.

Is it certified organic?

Yes. It is a certified organic product with no chemical additives, which is why the manure and compost in it are fully composted rather than raw. That makes it sound around fruit trees and vegetable beds, and it means you are adding genuine organic matter to your soil rather than a synthetic conditioner.

How much do I need?

Work on roughly one third planting mix to two thirds of the soil you dug out of the hole. For a shrub out of a 200 millimetre pot that is only a few litres. An advanced tree going into a large hole will take considerably more. Judge the quantity by the volume of the hole rather than the size of the plant.

Can I use it in pots?

It is not a potting mix and should not be used on its own in a container. The blend is designed to be diluted through garden soil, and used straight in a pot it holds too much water and settles badly. For containers, reach for a premium potting mix, or the native mix if you are potting natives.

Does it need to be watered in?

Yes. Water the plant well several hours before you plant it, then water thoroughly again once the hole is backfilled and the soil firmed down. That first deep watering settles the improved soil around the root ball and drives out air pockets. Keep the water up over the first few months while the roots establish.

View full details

Type: Garden Supplies

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

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Uses in my Garden

Screening or Privacy
Windbreak
Rural Property Planting
Council or Civic Landscapes

Cupressus x leylandii 'Better Green' works in an:

Formal Garden – structured, symmetrical design with clipped shapes.
Modern Garden – sleek, minimal, and design-led planting.
Coastal Garden – relaxed, seaside feel with hardy, textural plants.
Low-maintenance Garden – resilient choices for easy care and year-round appeal.

Is Cupressus x leylandii 'Better Green' Evergreen or Deciduous?

Cupressus x leylandii 'Better Green' is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 10m to 20m (approx.)

Mature Width: 5m to 8m

Cupressus x leylandii 'Better Green' is expected to grow 60cm to 100cm per year (approx.).

Growth Rate of Cupressus x leylandii 'Better Green'

Cupressus x leylandii 'Better Green' is expected to grow 60cm to 100cm per year (approx.).

They are considered to have a:

Fast Growth Rate

Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Cupressus x leylandii 'Better Green'

Is Cupressus x leylandii 'Better Green' frost tolerant?

Cupressus x leylandii 'Better Green' is Frost Hardy – Survives heavy and frequent frost without damage.

Does Cupressus x leylandii 'Better Green' Flower?

Cupressus × leylandii ‘Better Green’ produces small, inconspicuous male and female cones rather than ornamental flowers. These understated structures sit within the dense, rich-green foliage and form part of its natural seasonal cycle without contributing to visual display.

Does Cupressus x leylandii 'Better Green' flower?

No - Doesn't Flower

Flowering Period:

Not Applicable

Flower Type:

Not Applicable

Flower Colour:

Not Applicable

Is Cupressus x leylandii 'Better Green' an Australian Native Tree?

No

Cupressus x leylandii 'Better Green' is Native to A hybrid between Cupressus macrocarpa (Monterey Cypress) and Chamaecyparis nootkatensis (Nootka Cypress). ‘Better Green’ is an improved Leighton Green selection, bred for deeper colour and stronger density.

What is the Wildlife Value of Cupressus x leylandii 'Better Green' ?

Its tightly packed evergreen foliage provides valuable nesting and shelter sites for small birds, while the cones offer habitat for insects that contribute to broader garden biodiversity. The thick canopy also creates cool, protected spaces ideal for garden microfauna.

How much Sunlight does Cupressus x leylandii 'Better Green' need?

Cupressus x leylandii 'Better Green' will thrive best in:

Full Sun

Preferred Soil?

Cupressus × leylandii ‘Better Green’ performs best in well-drained loam or sandy loam soils and tolerates slightly acidic to slightly alkaline conditions. It can struggle in heavy clay or waterlogged ground unless improved with organic matter and coarse material to increase aeration and drainage. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then move to deep, occasional watering as the tree matures to support robust growth, dense foliage and long-term drought resilience.

Is Cupressus x leylandii 'Better Green' Drought Tolerant?

Is Cupressus x leylandii 'Better Green' Drought tolerant?

As a young tree it requires regular watering, but once established ‘Better Green’ develops excellent drought tolerance. It thrives in hot, dry, coastal and exposed environments, maintaining its vigorous growth and dense, screening form with minimal supplementary watering.

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How To Plant Your Cupressus x leylandii 'Better Green'

Site: Choose a well-drained position in full sun with good air movement and room for the canopy to develop.

Soil preparation: Enrich the planting area with quality compost and a light dressing of aged manure for a strong establishment phase.

Hole: Dig twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth, avoiding any low spot where water might pool.

Planting: Position level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, firm in, then water deeply to settle the roots.

Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Cupressus x leylandii 'Better Green'

Hedging and screening: 1 to 1.5 metres apart for a dense informal screen, or 80 centimetres apart for a tighter formal hedge.

Avenue planting: 3 metres apart for a uniform soft-textured avenue.

Cupressus x leylandii 'Better Green' is expected to grow 60cm to 100cm per year (approx.).

Fast Growth Rate

Long Term Care For Your Cupressus x leylandii 'Better Green'

Watering: Water deeply twice weekly through the first 12 months. Once established, this is drought tolerant and only needs a deep soak during extended dry periods.

Mulching: Apply a 5 centimetre layer of organic mulch or pine bark over the root zone, keeping it 5 centimetres clear of the trunk to avoid waterlogging at the base.

Pruning: Tip prune in late winter and again in summer to build dense growth. For a formal hedge, light shaping two to three times a year keeps lines crisp.

Fertilising: Apply a slow-release general-purpose fertiliser in early spring and again in autumn for steady growth and consistent foliage colour.

Pest and disease: Hardy against most pests and diseases. Occasional inspection in warm humid conditions is all that's needed.

Planting Your Cupressus x leylandii 'Better Green' in Different Soil

Cupressus leylandii performs best in free-draining loam or sandy loam with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH. Adaptable to a wide range of soils when drainage is sharp.

Sandy soil: Free-draining and ideal. Mulch lightly to moderate surface temperature.

Clay soil: Improve drainage with gypsum and coarse organic compost before planting.

Loam: The preferred soil for steady root development and consistent growth.

pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline preferred. Avoid waterlogging at all times.

Frequently Asked Questions

How quickly does 'Better Green' grow? It's among the fastest-growing conifers, with growth rates of up to 1m per year under optimal conditions.
Is it suitable for coastal areas? Yes, 'Better Green' can tolerate salt spray, making it suitable for coastal planting.