Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Greenstead Magnifica’, often referred to as ‘Greenstead Magnificent’, is a distinctive and highly valued cultivar of the Monterey Cypress. It’s a low-growing, spreading shrub with dense, finely textured foliage in an attractive blue-grey or silvery-blue colour. The tips of the foliage have a graceful, weeping habit. This plant is often grafted onto a tall, straight trunk to create a “standard” form, which is what makes it a popular choice for formal and feature plantings.
General Care & Usage Tips
- Position: For the best foliage colour, plant in full sun. While it can handle some shade, its signature silvery-blue hue is most intense with plenty of sunlight. It is also quite wind and coastal tolerant.
- Soil: It’s not particularly fussy about soil type, as long as it is well-draining. It will thrive in a wide range of soils, including loams and sandy soils.
- Watering: Water regularly while the plant is establishing itself, especially during hot, dry spells. Once it’s mature and has settled in, it’s quite drought-tolerant, but a deep watering occasionally will help keep it looking its best.
- Fertiliser: A slow-release general-purpose fertiliser applied in spring is a good idea to encourage healthy growth, but it’s not strictly necessary for this tough plant.
- Pruning: If you have the standard form, regularly trim off any shoots growing from the trunk below the graft point. To maintain the neat, rounded or weeping shape of the head, a light trim in spring is all that’s required.
- Usage: Its unique habit and stunning colour make it a fantastic feature plant. The standard form is ideal for large pots on a patio or deck, or for creating a formal look by planting them to line a pathway. It also works beautifully in rockeries and mixed conifer gardens.
