Cupressus Macrocarpa Wilma Monterey Cypress

Cupressus Macrocarpa Wilma is a narrow and upright RHS AGM winning cultivar of Monterey Cypress. It’s evergreen horizontal spreading branches with soft yellow-green needles create superb separating hedges, privacy screens and boost decorative architectural borders.

Cupressus Macrocarpa is the Monterey Cypress from California. They tend to be tall evergreen conifers, but this narrow and upright variety is more suited to gardens. It was found in The Netherlands as a mutation of a the Monterey Cypress cultivar Cypress Macrocarpa Goldcrest.

Wilma is a conical variety of Monterey Cypress with upright branches covered in lovely yellow-green feathery needles. Its foliage is dense, bright, cheerful and lemon-scented when it’s rubbed. New foliage emerges bright lime green before maturing to match the established foliage and in summer, small nutty brown cones may appear.

This is a gentle evergreen tree with delicious foliage and soft pain-free needles.

Height and Spread of Cupressus Macrocarpa Wilma
Over ten years Monterey Cypress Wilma reaches 1.8 metres tall by just 70 centimetres wide.

How Hardy is Cupressus Macrocarpa Wilma
This is a hardy shrub that copes with minus temperatures and some drought when it’s established, but harsh drying winds can damage its soft foliage and turn it brown, so a sheltered spot is best.

How to Use Cupressus Macrocarpa Wilma
Cupressus Macrocarpa Wilma is understated enough to suit both urban courtyards and countryside borders. Its bright lime green foliage forms a colourful backdrop to seasonal planting and brings a zing of fresh colour to dull winter spaces when flowers are few and far between.
Its dense foliage creates a privacy screen or hedge and provides shelter for birds and insects. If it’s in a sheltered spot, Wilma is ideal container planting for a dull balcony, deck or patio.
Wilma is an instant impact plant that brings shape, colour and texture to bare spots and needs very little maintenance in return.

How To Care For Cupressus Macrocarpa Wilma
Easy to grow and care for this soft evergreen enjoys full sun to a little partial shade in any well-drained fertile soil. Its feathery needles are damaged by harsh wind, so choose a sheltered but sunny spot for planting.
Pruning isn’t necessary, but if you’re creating a hedge, a yearly prune will help thicken up the branches and cultivate a neat, tidy form.
Well-rotted mulch on the roots in spring will help provide nutrients for the coming year. Be sure to water it well until established and regularly if you’re container growing.