Cupressus torulosa 'Arctic Green' – Arctic Green Bhutan Cypress

Site: Choose a free draining position in full sun to part shade with good air movement and room for the column to develop.

Soil preparation: Work compost and a light dressing of aged manure through the planting area 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: Set level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, firm in, then water deeply to settle the roots. Stake young plants on windy sites.

Hedging and screening: 1.5 to 2 metres apart for a solid evergreen screen that closes within two or three seasons.

Windbreak: 2 to 2.5 metres apart so each tree carries a full skirt of foliage to the ground.

Feature tree: 3 metres apart to allow the full column and form to develop.

Watering: Water deeply once or twice weekly through the first 12 months. Once established it is drought tolerant and only needs a deep soak in 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.

Pruning: Tip prune in late winter and again in midsummer to build density. For a formal face, light shaping two to three times a year keeps the 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. Cypress canker can affect stressed plants, so avoid drought stress and waterlogging and remove any dead wood promptly.

Cupressus torulosa performs best in free draining loam or sandy loam, and tolerates anything from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. Adaptable to poorer ground provided drainage is reliable.

Sandy soil: Free draining and ideal. Mulch to hold moisture through establishment.

Clay soil: Plant on a raised mound and improve with gypsum and coarse organic matter.

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

pH: Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline all suit. Avoid waterlogging at any time.

Q: What is Cupressus torulosa 'Arctic Green'?
A: It is a selected form of the Bhutan cypress, a Himalayan conifer, chosen for its bright green foliage and tight upright habit. The foliage is finer and a clearer green than most cypress, and it holds that colour through cold weather rather than bronzing off. It is grown almost entirely for screening and windbreak work.

Q: How big does Arctic Green Bhutan Cypress grow?
A: Around 6 to 10 metres tall and 2 to 3 metres wide in cultivation. In the wild the species can go higher, but garden and screen plantings sit comfortably in that range. Height is easily held lower with an annual trim, and clipping the sides keeps the width in check along a fence line or driveway.

Q: How fast does it grow?
A: Fast. Expect 60 centimetres to a metre of height a year through the first several seasons in good soil with reasonable water, slowing as the tree approaches full size. That pace is the main reason it gets specified over slower conifers when a screen has to do its job within a few years rather than a decade.

Q: Is it frost hardy?
A: Yes. It is frost hardy and comes through heavy and repeated frost without foliage burn, which suits the inland tablelands, the Ballarat and Bendigo districts, the Adelaide Hills and Gippsland. Young plants still benefit from a stake and a mulched root zone through their first winter, mostly to keep them upright and the roots insulated.

Q: How far apart should I plant it for a screen?
A: For a solid screen, 1.5 to 2 metres apart in a single row closes the gaps within two or three seasons. For a windbreak on rural land, 2 to 2.5 metres lets each tree develop a full skirt down to the ground. As a specimen or in an avenue, allow 3 metres.

Q: Is it drought tolerant?
A: Once established, yes. It handles extended dry spells and hot exposed sites without supplementary water, provided the soil drains freely. Through the first two summers water deeply once a week so the root system gets down before the ground dries out. Waterlogged ground is a far greater risk to it than dry ground.

Q: How do I care for Arctic Green Bhutan Cypress?
A: Very little is needed. Tip prune in late winter and again in midsummer to build density, and shape the sides if you want a formal face. Feed with a slow release fertiliser in early spring and autumn for the first few years. Keep mulch clear of the trunk and watch for canker on stressed plants.