Cupressus leylandii 'Better Green' (Improved Leighton Green Variety)

Cupressus leylandii ‘Better Green’ is a superior, fast-growing Leyland Cypress cultivar developed for clean form, reliable colour, and improved performance in screening and hedging applications. Also known as Cupressus ‘Madeline’ Better Green, this variety features soft, vibrant green foliage and a strong upright habit — making it a dependable and more refined alternative to traditional Leighton Green.

Reaching 15–20 metres tall and 3–4 metres wide, Better Green offers a narrow vertical form ideal for privacy planting in residential and commercial settings where height is required but space is limited. Its dense evergreen foliage ensures year-round coverage and a formal, uniform appearance with regular pruning.

This cultivar thrives in full sun to part shade and is particularly well-suited to urban and coastal sites — performing reliably in windy, salty, or polluted conditions. Whether you're building a long screen, a formal hedge, or a natural windbreak, Cupressus leylandii ‘Better Green’ is a low-fuss, high-impact choice with fast establishment and long-term structure.

Key Details

• Common Name: Better Green Leyland Cypress

• Botanical Name: Cupressus leylandii ‘Better Green’ (syn. Cupressus ‘Madeline’ Better Green)

• Mature Height: 15–20 metres

• Mature Width: 3–4 metres

• Foliage: Dense, vibrant mid-green, soft to touch

• Growth Rate: Fast

• Form: Upright, columnar, uniform

• Evergreen: Yes

• Flowering: Non-flowering

• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade

• Soil: Well-drained; adaptable

• Tolerates: Salt spray, wind, urban pollution

• Water Needs: Moderate; regular watering until established

• Maintenance: Medium; prune to maintain shape and height

• Best Uses: Screening, privacy hedging, windbreaks, feature row planting

Why Choose Cupressus leylandii ‘Better Green’?

This is a modern upgrade on classic Leyland Cypress. Compared to Leighton Green, Better Green establishes faster, holds its colour more consistently, and maintains a tighter, neater shape with less work. It's ideal for fast results in premium residential hedging and commercial screening where reliability and clean lines matter.