Cupressus macrocarpa 'Donard Gold'

RHS Plant Profile
Monterey cypress 'Donard Gold'

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Monterey cypress 'Donard Gold' RHS
Conifers Trees

An upright, narrow, evergreen tree with a conical habit, bright yellow-green aromatic foliage and cinnamon-brown bark. The colours looks their best when the tree is grown in full sun. An ideal choice for screening or as a backdrop in a low shrub border

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
20–50 years
Max Spread
1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height
4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
North–facing or East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H4

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Foliage
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Cupressaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus
Cupressus are vigorous, evergreen trees with flaking or scaly bark, often with columnar or narrowly ovoid crowns, small, often aromatic, scale-like leaves and small, spherical female cones
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Protect from cool, drying winds. Tolerates dry conditions. Can be used for hedging but will require regular pruning. See conifer cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed or semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Coastal
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Hedging and screens

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to cypress aphid

Diseases

May be susceptible to coryneum canker and honey fungus. See Conifers: brown patches