Cypress

From the slender columns of Italian cypress to the soft pyramids of Hinoki and the feathery native bald cypress, this group covers a remarkable range of forms. Foliage spans deep green to the silvery blue-gray of Arizona cypress, and bald cypress turns coppery orange before dropping its needles in fall. Privacy screens, windbreaks, and specimen plantings are all within reach, and several species are treasured by bonsai growers. Arizona and Italian cypress handle hot, dry landscapes, while bald cypress thrives in wet soils and along ponds. Since the species differ so much, it pays to sow each kind of seed separately, and many respond well to a cold, moist spell first.