Mediterranean cypress (Cupressus sempervirens, Sp. Pl.: 1002 (1753))

Family: Cupressaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 1002 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Cupressus

Vegetable: False

Observations: E. Medit. to Iran

Description

The Mediterranean cypress, scientifically known as Cupressus sempervirens, is a remarkable and resilient evergreen tree that hails from the eastern Mediterranean region extending to Iran. This species, first described by the eminent botanist Carl Linnaeus in his seminal work “Species Plantarum” in 1753, belongs to the cypress family, Cupressaceae.

Renowned for its elegant, columnar form, the Mediterranean cypress can often be seen dotting landscapes with its tall, slender silhouette, making it a popular choice for ornamental planting and landscaping. Reaching heights of up to 35 meters (115 feet) or more, the tree is characterized by its dense, dark green foliage and distinctive aromatic wood. The foliage consists of scale-like leaves that are pressed tightly against the twigs, creating a lush, evergreen appearance year-round.

In addition to its aesthetic qualities, the Mediterranean cypress is valued for its robust nature. It thrives in a range of soil types and demonstrates remarkable drought resistance, qualities that contribute to its widespread distribution across arid and semi-arid regions. Its resilience to harsh climatic conditions has made it a staple in both natural and cultivated environments from eastern Mediterranean landscapes to the far reaches of Iran.

The wood of Cupressus sempervirens is highly prized for its durability and resistance to decay, historically utilized for constructing buildings, ships, and furniture. Its aromatic oils also offer natural insect-repellent properties, further heightening its utility in various applications.

Culturally and historically, the Mediterranean cypress holds significant importance. It is often associated with ancient graveyards and sacred spaces, symbolizing immortality and enduring life due to its perpetual green hue. This symbolic representation has endured through centuries, making the tree a poignant feature in gardens and religious sites across its native and introduced ranges.

In summary, the Mediterranean cypress stands as a beacon of elegance and resilience, with its striking appearance and robust nature ensuring its place in both historical and contemporary landscapes. Whether appreciated for its aesthetic appeal, practical uses, or cultural significance, Cupressus sempervirens continues to be a cherished species across the regions it calls home.

Common Names

Heb: brosh matzui, tzrifi, ברוש מצוי,צריפי
Mlt: cipress kannella
Ita: cipresso, cipresso comune, cipresso femmina, cipresso italiano, cipresso orizzontale
Fra: cyprès d’italie, cyprès sempervirent, cyprès commun, cyprès méditerranéen
Deu: echte zypresse, mittelmeer-zypresse, italienische zypresse
Hun: európai valódi ciprus
Nld: italiaanse cipres
Eng: italian cypress, mediterranean cypress, common-cypress, pyramidal-cypress
Tur: servi
Por: cedro-bastardo, cerca-viva, cipreste, cipreste-charuto, cipreste-colunar, cipreste-comum, cipreste-comun, cipreste-da-itália, cipreste-de-itália, cipreste-do-mediterrâneo, cipreste-dos-cemitérios, cipreste-italiano, cipreste-piramidal, cupressus-piramidalis
Spa: ciprés, ciprés común, ciprés italiano
Swe: kretacypress
Rus: кипарис вечнозелёный (kiparis vechnozeljonyj)
Zho: 地中海柏木 (di zhong hai bai mu)
Ara: سرو
En: Mediterranean cypress, Italian cypress, Common-cypress, Pyramidal-cypress
Sq: Selvia
Ar: سرو المتوسط, سرو
Hy: Նոճի մշտադալար
Az: Adi sərv
Eu: Nekosta arrunt
Be: Кіпарыс вечназялёны
Bg: Обикновен кипарис
Ca: Xifrer, Xiprer comú, Xiprer mediterrani, Xiprer negre, Xiper
Zh: Di zhong hai bai mu, 地中海柏木, 地中海柏木 (di zhong hai bai mu)
Hr: Čempres
Cs: Cypřiš stálezelený
Da: Almindelig Cypres
Nl: Italiaanse cipres
Eo: Mediteranea cipreso
Fi: Välimerensypressi
Fr: Cyprès commun, Cyprès d’Italie, Cyprès sempervirent, Cyprès méditerranéen, Cyprès de Provence, Cyprès de Montpellier, Cyprès pyramidal, Cyprès toujours vert, Cyprs commun
Gl: Alcipreste común
Ka: Მარადმწვანე კვიპაროზი
De: Italienische Zypresse, Echte Zypresse, Trauerzypresse, Mittelmeer-Zypresse
He: ברוש מצוי, Brosh matzui, tzrifi, ברוש מצוי,צריפי
Hu: Európai ciprus, Európai valódi ciprus
Is: Sýprusviður
It: Cipresso comune, Cipresso, Cipresso femmina, Cipresso italiano, Cipresso orizzontale, Cupressus sempervirens, Servi
Lt: Visžalis kiparisas
Mk: Обичен чемпрес
Mt: Cipress kannella
No: Ekte sypress, Vanlig sypress
Fa: سرو ناز
Pl: Cyprys wiecznie zielony
Pt: Cipreste-italiano, Cedro-bastardo, Cerca-viva, Cipreste, Cipreste-charuto, Cipreste-colunar, Cipreste-comum, Cipreste-comun, Cipreste-da-itália, Cipreste-de-itália, Cipreste-do-mediterrâneo, Cipreste-dos-cemitérios, Cipreste-piramidal, Cupressus-piramidalis, Cipreste italiano
Ro: Chiparos
Ru: Кипарис вечнозелёный, Кипарис вечнозелёный (kiparis vechnozeljonyj)
Sk: Cyprus vždyzelený
Es: Ciprés común, Ciprés italiano, Ciprés del Mediterráneo, Vednozelena cipresa, Ciprés, Ciprés fino, Cupressus sempervirens, Ciprs
Sv: Kretacypress, Äkta cypress
Tr: Akdeniz servisi, Servi
Uk: Кипарис вічнозелений
Cy: Cypreswydden

Synonyms

• Cupressus horizontalis var. pendula (Endl.)
• Juniperus whitleyana (Miq.)
• Cupressus roylei (Carrière)
• Cupressus sempervirens f. stricta ((Aiton) Rehder)
• Cupressus sempervirens var. umbilicata ((Parl.) Parl.)
• Cupressus sempervirens var. horizontalis ((Mill.) G.Don)
• Cupressus sempervirens subvar. horizontalis ((Mill.) Hayek)
• Cupressus sempervirens subvar. pyramidalis (Hayek)
• Cupressus horizontalis (Mill.)
• Cupressus foemina (Garsault)
• Cupressus sempervirens var. pendula ((Endl.) A.Camus)
• Cupressus umbilicata (Parl.)
• Cupressus sempervirens var. pyramidalis (Nyman)
• Cupressus expansa (Targ.Tozz. ex Steud.)
• Cupressus elongata (Salisb.)
• Cupressus sphaerocarpa (Parl.)
• Cupressus orientalis (Beissn.)
• Cupressus stricta (Mill. ex Gordon & Glend.)
• Cupressus sempervirens subsp. horizontalis ((Mill.) A.Camus)
• Cupressus patula (Pers.)
• Cupressus thujifolia (Knight ex Gordon & Glend.)
• Cupressus mariae (Sennen)
• Cupressus mas (Garsault)
• Chamaecyparis thujiformis (R.Sm. ex Gordon)
• Cupressus sempervirens var. numidica (Trab. ex G.Barron)
• Cupressus sempervirens var. globulifera (Parl.)
• Cupressus pyramidalis (O.Targ.Tozz.)
• Cupressus sempervirens var. stricta (Aiton)
• Cupressus sempervirens var. indica (Parl.)
• Cupressus fastigiata (DC.)
• Cupressus whitleyana (Carrière)
• Cupressus sempervirens subsp. indica ((Parl.) Silba)
• Cupressus thujiformis (Parker ex Gordon)
• Cupressus conoidea (Spadoni)
• Cupressus sempervirens var. sphaerocarps ((Parl.) Parl.)
• Cupressus thujioides (H.Low ex Gordon)
• Cupressus globulifera (Parl.)
• Cupressus lugubris (Salisb.)
• Cupressus sempervirens f. horizontalis ((Mill.) Voss)

Distribution

• Cyprus (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• Iran (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Libya (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Albania (introduced)
• Algeria (introduced)
• Baleares (introduced)
• Bulgaria (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Corse (introduced)
• France (introduced)
• Greece (introduced)
• Italy (introduced)
• Krym (introduced)
• Morocco (introduced)
• Portugal (introduced)
• Sardegna (introduced)
• Sicilia (introduced)
• Spain (introduced)
• Switzerland (introduced)
• Tunisia (introduced)
• Turkey-in-Europe (introduced)
• Yugoslavia (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Leaf

Taken Sep 30, 2021 by A Murone (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 10, 2021 by Miguel A. C. (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 10, 2021 by jo (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jan 1, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 20, 2022 by Acosta García Isabel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 19, 2018 by alexis joly (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 10, 2021 by Miguel A. C. (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 31, 2019 by tk Gard (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Apr 21, 2019 by Gérard OLIVIER (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 18, 2018 by Nicolas Goensch (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 29, 2019 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 29, 2019 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 29, 2019 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Apr 27, 2019 by cinghiale (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 26, 2020 by Gutiérrez Daniel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 29, 2019 by Werner Rom (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 27, 2021 by Bernardino Vitor (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 10, 2021 by jo (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Jan 22, 2020 by Adrien Broni (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 9, 2019 by bas yves (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 31, 2019 by Julien Nappez (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 26, 2020 by Gutiérrez Daniel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 11, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Carre Jennifer (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Thierry Pernot (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Thierry Pernot (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Thierry Pernot (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 2, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 25, 2017 by Rocío Pérez (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2684030)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:261974-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Cupressus sempervirens L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Tree

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.5

Ph minimum: 7.0

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 3

Bloom months: [‘apr’]

Soil nutriments: 5