Cupressus funebris (02/02/2014, Kew gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to light shade
Flowering period: Late winter
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 35m
Eventual Spread: 10m
Hardiness: 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11
Family: Cupressaceae
Cupressus funebris is an upright evergreen tree. Its grey/ green leaves appear in two forms, juvenile and adult. Its juvenile leaves soft, needle like and up to 8mm long. Its adult leaves are scales and up to 2mm long and appear as flattened pendulous sprays. Its trunk may achieve a diameter of up to 2m. Its brown bark is smooth. Its yellow monoecious flowers are in the form of female seed cones ans male pollen cones. Its grey/ green fruit are cones up to 15mm long.
Cupressus funebris Leaf (02/02/2014, Kew gardens, London)
Cupressus funebris, commonly known as the Chinese Weeping Cypress or Mourning Cypress, is native to south west and central China. In its native habitat it grows in a wooded environment.
The etymological root of the binomial name Cupressus is derived from the old Latin name for ‘Italian cypress’. Funebris is from Latin meaning ‘funeral’, presumably giving rise to one of its common names.
The landscape architect may find Cupressus funebris useful as an ornamental specimen conifer tree. Once established this tree is drought tolerant.
Cupressus funebris Seed Cones (02/02/2014, Kew gardens, London)
Ecologically, Cupressus funebris is of little wildlife benefit in the UK.
Cupressus funebris prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It will tolerate poor soils.
Cupressus funebris requires little maintenance.
