I’ve loved Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) ever since I was a kid.

It’s a tall, narrow coniferous plant with a host of common nicknames. Among them are “Mediterranean cypress,” “Persian cypress,” “Tuscan cypress,” and “pencil pine.”

It’s an evergreen with grey-green needles and columnar appearance. They’re highly versatile and are common in both formal and informal garden settings. They can also fit just about anywhere as a row planting or ornamental.

It may seem that Italian cypress would be a go-to for anyone who wants distinctive-looking foliage in their landscape. But there are a few things to consider before planting one of these trees in your yard.

Pros Of Italian Cypress

After buying our house years ago, my wife and I decided to include an Italian cypress as an ornamental. Indeed, there are many reasons to plant these conical evergreens.

They Make Excellent Privacy Screens

“They are used in the landscape to make a dense screen or as an accent species around large buildings,” says Tia Silvasy, an extension agent in residential horticulture and master gardener volunteer coordinator with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Services (IFAS) Extension in Hillsborough County, Florida.

While they’re narrow and require many planted in a row to block out unsightly views of wider proportions, Italian cypress is tall. Therefore, they’re perfect for obscuring views of brick walls, neighbors’ boats or recreational vehicles, and even nearby utility poles.

Italian Cypress Is Fast Growing

Whether growing Italian cypress as a privacy screen, ornamental, or for another purpose, you won’t be waiting around for this plant to reach new heights. In ideal growing conditions, they grow as much as three feet per year. At that clip, it can reach its mature height of 50 feet or even more in a relatively short timeframe. Certainly, as compared to other, more slowly growing plants, Italian cypress can be classified as a fast-growing tree.

They Live A Long Time

It’s not too often we think about the lifespans of big shrubs or trees. But you’d be surprised how many of them don’t make it for the long haul. Some start appearing long in the tooth — and ready for replacement — after only a few decades, often sooner. But not Italian cypress! They can last 150 years in an urban garden if cared for correctly. In their native growing zones, they can go on for more than a thousand years. Suffice it to say, the only reason you may need to replace one is if you grow tired of it!

Cons Of Italian Cypress

As great as these evergreen trees may be for aesthetic purposes, they’re not without their problems. We’ll see what some of these are just below…

Italian Cypress Adds No Natural Benefit To North American Native Gardens

“They are not native to North America,” says Silvasy. In fact, they’re not native to anyplace on the American continent! Italian cypress is native to the eastern Mediterranean and into adjacent places such as Iran. Therefore, Italian cypress adds no horticultural enhancement to gardeners in North America who strive to achieve a truly native garden. That’s not to say they’re bad plants! But they’re not going to get you any closer to your goals of growing a native garden, if that’s your aim.

They Don’t Provide Much Help To Local Creatures

“[Italian cypresses] do not provide any notable benefits to wildlife, although they have small oval-shaped fruits,” Silvasy notes. They produce brown- or copper-colored copper cones in autumn. But they’re not the sort of plant you introduce to your landscape if you’re looking to attract streams of fluttering butterflies to your yard.

They’re Not Immune To Attacks From Mother Nature

“Italian cypress trees are susceptible to mites and fungal diseases,” Silvasy warns, adding that “bagworms are occasionally a problem.” She says that mite damage can cause the trees to bronze or acquire a “dusty” appearance. “Insects can be treated and infected leaves removed to clean it up.” She tells Floridians (like my wife and me) that humidity frequently leads to fungal issues. “To reduce issues with disease, avoid overhead watering of the trees. Drip or microirrigation would be the preferred irrigation method to minimize the contact of the water with the leaves. Fungicide sprays containing copper can also be applied to prevent fungal diseases.”

Should You Plant Italian Cypress In Your Yard?

Ultimately the decision comes down to you. There are many reasons for and against planting Italian cypress trees in your landscape. As for my wife and me, we planted one as an ornamental even though we try staying with mostly native plants in our yard.

This dense conifer adds vertical interest to an area of our yard with a lot of shorter, wider plants. And given our warm climate zone (9B) and periods of drought, this heat-loving plant that doesn’t require much irrigation once established thrives in our landscape.

When evaluating the pros and cons of Italian cypress, consider your landscape challenges, aesthetic goals, and horticultural mission. These versatile evergreens may not be on any list of pollinator plants and may attract more pests than beneficial insects. However, they can add a new dimension to your yard and help beautify your landscape in ways other plants can’t.