Species/Varieties of Trees at Louisiana's Christmas Forest
Leyland Cypress
We presently have 14 different species or varieties growing at Louisiana's Christmas Forest, but by far our most popular tree is Leyland cypress.
It's no overstatement to say that the most exciting thing to happen in the short history of the southern Christmas Tree industry is the introduction of Leyland cypress. Beleaguered growers, tired of fighting insects, disease, poor form and the generally poor financial returns associated with Virginia pine, are welcoming Leyland cypress with open arms.
What is Leyland cypress?
In the 1800's numerous tree species from all over the world were planted in an arboretum at Leighton Hall estate in England (Welshpool, Wales). In 1888, six unusual seedlings were noticed at Leighton Hall, apparently from a rare intergeneric cross between an Alaska-Cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) mother tree and a nearby Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa). Both parent trees are native to the North-American Pacific coast. The new hybrid (X Cupressocyparis leylandii) was called a cypress since the Alaska-Cedar is a "false cypress" and the Monterey Cypress is a "true cypress." Neither are related to our southern baldcypress (Taxodium distichum).
The original six seedlings were taken to Haggerston Castle estate in central England (Northumberland) by a relative of the owner of Leighton Hall, C. J. Leyland. In 1911, two more seedlings were derived from a Monterey cypress at Leighton Hall and were transplanted there by J. M. Naylor, a nephew of Leyland. One of these developed into the popular 'Leighton Green' cultivar. An additional two seedlings originated in a garden at Ferndown, Dorset in 1940.
The beauty and outstanding growth of these new hybrids caused them to be planted throughout England and abroad. Leylands were first introduced into the United States at the Institute of Forest Genetics at Placerville, California in 1941 and into the South in 1965 at Brookgreen Gardens on the Atlantic Coast and Clemson in the Upper Piedmont.
Leyland cypress was first considered for use as a Christmas Tree when Clemson University began studying it in the 1970's. The production of Leylands for Christmas Trees has since spread from South Carolina to other parts of the South and now numbers in the hundreds of thousands annually. Demand for rooted cuttings for Christmas Tree production began to accelerate in the early 1990's and today is increasing dramatically each year.
There apparently are at least 12, and possible more, clones or "cultivars" (cultivated varieties) of Leyland cypress in existence, each from a different cross between the parent species. The cultivar planted almost exclusively for Christmas Trees in the southern United States to date is 'Leighton Green'; however, other cultivars such as 'Castlewellan Gold' and 'Silver Dust' show promise for those customers preferring something different.
Dirr (1990) describes Leyland cypress as a "magnificent, noble, needled evergreen forming a columnar to pyramidal outline." It has a quite fast growth rate, easily reaching three feet per year in youth (unsheared, in good conditions), and the original trees in England are reported to be over 100' tall. Dirr believes its range will include hardiness zones 6 to 10, possible 5.
Other Cultivars of Leylands at Christmas Forest
To date we have six cultivars of Leyland cypress growing at Louisiana's Christmas Forest:
- 'Leighton Green'
- 'Castlewellan Gold'
- 'Silver Dust'
- 'Haggerston Grey'
- 'Green Spire'
- 'Naylor's Blue'
The only cultivars other than 'Leighton Green' which we have large enough for sale are 'Castlewellan Gold' and 'Silver Dust'. The 'Castlewellan' has distinctive, handsome golden-yellow foliage which develops into a beautiful "old gold" by Christmas. Similar to the 'Leighton Green', but with somewhat slower growth, the 'Silver Dust' exhibits creamy white variegated foliage, hence its name. Both of these unusually cultivars promise to be quite popular with a limited number of Christmas tree customers.
Carolina Sapphire
Carolina Sapphire is a cultivar of Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica). It was isolated by the South Carolina Forestry Commission in the 1970's, and today is beginning to be planted on a limited basis across the South.
Its best characteristics include fast growth, a beautiful blue color and an excellent aroma.
