- Mature height
- 6m to 10m
- Mature width
- 2m to 4m
Cupressus torulosa, the Bhutan Cypress, is the screening conifer to plant when Leyland has let you down. It carries soft bright green foliage in fine drooping sprays on a naturally upright frame, and it holds that colour through heat and dry weather that turns other cypress dull and bronze.
Growth is fast, which is the point of it. A screen closes in a few seasons rather than a decade, and the habit is naturally conical, so it needs far less shaping than a hedge conifer usually does. Left alone it reaches around 6 to 10 metres with a 2 to 4 metre spread, and it clips readily to hold whatever height a boundary needs.
It comes from the Himalaya, which is why it handles both frost and drought better than most cypress. Full sun and free-draining soil are all it asks. Once established it needs very little water, and it is noticeably less troubled by canker than Leyland cypress in warm humid districts.
The same tolerance for clipping is why it takes topiary so well. Alongside the plain screening sizes, this listing carries four pre-clipped trained forms at 50cm, each grown and shaped in the nursery and ready to place.
Which form do you need?
50cm and 100L are the natural form, supplied as young and advanced plants for screens, hedges and windbreaks you shape yourself.
Standard Form is a clipped head on a clear straight stem, the classic lollipop for framing an entry.
Square Standard is the same clear stem carrying a squared, architectural head.
Pyramid Standard carries a tapered cone on the stem, giving height and a strong vertical line.
Mushroom Standard carries a low, broad domed head, wider than it is tall.
All four arrive trained, so the shaping and the growing-on time are already done.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Cupressus torulosa
What is the difference between the trained forms?
All four sit on a clear straight stem and differ only in the shape of the head. Standard is a rounded ball, Square Standard is clipped to flat faces for a more architectural look, Pyramid Standard tapers to a point for height and a vertical line, and Mushroom Standard is a low broad dome, wider than it is tall. They cost more than the plain sizes because the training and the growing-on time are already done for you.
How does it compare to Leyland cypress?
Bhutan Cypress handles heat and drought better and is less troubled by canker, which is the problem that takes out Leyland hedges in warm humid districts. Leyland is faster in a cool climate. If you have lost a Leyland screen before, this is the sensible replacement.
How big does it grow?
Around 6 to 10 metres tall and 2 to 4 metres wide in cultivation, with a naturally conical habit. As a clipped hedge it is easily held anywhere between 2 and 5 metres. The trained standards are held permanently at their clipped size.
How fast does it grow?
Fast. A screen planted from the 50cm size closes within a few seasons given water and sun through establishment. The 100L advanced specimens give height immediately, which is the size to choose when the screen is needed now rather than eventually.
How far apart should I plant it for a screen?
1.5 to 2 metres apart for a solid clipped screen, or 2.5 to 3 metres for a looser informal line where each tree keeps its own shape. Advanced 100L plants already carry width, so use the wider end of that range. Standards are usually placed in pairs at an entry or repeated at 2 to 3 metre centres.
Is it frost and drought tolerant?
Both. It comes from the Himalaya, so it takes real frost without damage, and once established it is genuinely drought tolerant. Sharp drainage matters more than water. It will not tolerate ground that stays wet.
When should I prune it?
Trim in late winter and again in summer if you are holding a formal hedge or a trained standard. Always cut into green growth. Like most conifers it does not reshoot from bare brown wood, so never cut back past the foliage or you will be left with a permanent hole. On a standard, rub off any shoots appearing on the clear stem as soon as you see them.
How do I care for it?
Water deeply through the first two summers, then only in extended dry spells. Mulch the root zone and keep the mulch clear of the trunk. Feed with a slow-release fertiliser in early spring. Keep air moving through a hedge by trimming rather than letting it thicken, which reduces the risk of fungal problems.
