Virginia Tech Dendrology

Leyland cypress Cupressaceae xHesperotropsis leylandii (A.B. Jacks. & Dallim.) Garland & Gerry Moore [Hesperocyparis macrocarpa × Callitropsis nootkatensis] symbol: HELE4
Leaf: Evergreen, fine, scale-like foliage, arranged in decussate pairs, individual leaves 1/16 to 1/8 inch long, green to bluish-green above and below, arranged in flat sprays.
Flower: Species is monoecious; not showy, males small (1/8 inch) reddish brown terminal cones; females sightly larger, round, yellow-green.
Fruit: Round, small cone, 1/2 to 3/4 inch diameter, brown, rarely fruits.
Twig: Flattened or quadrangular branchlets.
Bark: Reddish brown, scaly when young, later developing gray weathered strips.
Form: Medium sized tree reaching 60 to 70 feet in landscape, narrow, oblong crown.
Looks like: Alaska yellow-cedar - Monterey cypress - Sawara-cedar - Hinoki falsecypress

Additional Range Information: xHesperotropsis leylandii is planted in the USDA hardiness zones shown above and is not known to widely escape cultivaton. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database - Horticulture Information
All material 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information