When Winds Rattle Across an East Anglian Plot, Leyland Cypress Stands Steady, Taking the Blast so the Rest of the Garden Doesn’t Have to.

Fast, Reliable Evergreen Screening

Cupressocyparis is famous for its speed. In a suitable spot it can put on 60cm or more a year while young, which makes it one of the quickest ways to create a solid evergreen screen. For gardeners overlooked by new builds, roads or nearby houses, that vigour can be a real blessing. The key is to see that speed as an asset you direct, not something to ignore: with regular, light trimming, a Leylandii hedge or screen stays dense, smart and very effective without ever reaching the “monster” stage that people sometimes worry about.

  • Fast, Reliable Evergreen Screening
  • Year‑Round Green Structure In Windy Sites
  • Versatile Forms For Hedges, Screens And Specimens

Leylandii at a Glance:

Common name: Leylandii or Leyland cypress

Latin name: Cupressocyparis

Size in UK gardens: Unclipped trees can eventually reach well over 10m; regularly trimmed hedges are usually maintained anywhere from 1.8–4m tall and 60–150cm thick, depending on space and purpose.

Best position: A sunny or lightly shaded site with room for width, where a tall evergreen screen or hedge is genuinely needed.

Soil: Most reasonably fertile, well‑drained soils; tolerant of clay, loam and sandy ground as long as it doesn’t sit waterlogged for long periods.

Main interest: Dense, year‑round evergreen foliage on flat sprays, forming strong hedges, screens and windbreaks.

Fragrance: Foliage has a fresh, resinous scent when clipped or brushed against; not grown primarily for fragrance.

Hardiness: Fully hardy in most UK gardens; established plants tolerate frost, wind and coastal exposure well if roots are not waterlogged.

Care level: Moderate – easy to grow, but does need planned, regular trimming if used as a hedge to keep it neat and within bounds.
Some of our team!

Home-grown, backed by local specialists.

The Simpson’s team raises the majority of our trees here at the nursery. For varieties outside our own production, we work with independent local growers we trust - all chosen for UK climate suitability.

Leylandii Care at a Glance:

Planting time: As container‑grown plants, Cupressocyparis can be planted in most months when the ground isn’t frozen or waterlogged, with autumn and early spring generally best for establishing hedges and screens.

Watering: Water well in the first couple of years, especially during dry springs and summers, so the hedge line doesn’t dry out. Once established, roots can find their own moisture on most soils, but very long droughts, especially on light soils, may still benefit from occasional deep watering.

Feeding: In reasonable soil, a yearly mulch of compost or well‑rotted manure along the hedge base is usually enough. On very poor or sandy soils, a light application of balanced fertiliser in spring can help maintain good growth and colour.

Pruning: Regular light trimming is the key to success. For hedges, trim once or twice a year, taking back that season’s growth to your chosen line and never cutting into old, bare wood. Individual trees generally need only the removal of dead or awkward branches.

Winter: Established hedges need little winter attention beyond making sure they haven’t gone into the cold season drought‑stressed. A mulch helps protect roots and soil life; in very windy areas, check for any loosened plants and firm them back in.

Varieties We Usually Stock

Availability is always changing, so please check with us if you have a particular variety in mind.

Acer campestre

Acer campestre 'Elsrijk'

Acer campestre 'Queen Elizabeth'

Acer campestre 'Carnival'

Frequently Asked Questions

Cupressocyparis has a reputation for getting out of hand, but that’s usually down to neglect rather than the plant itself. Untrimmed, Leylandii can become very tall, which is not ideal in a small suburban plot. However, if you genuinely need a tall evergreen hedge and are prepared to trim it once or twice a year, it can be an excellent choice – fast to establish, dense, and relatively unfussy about soil. The key is planning: allow enough space for the hedge’s width, decide your long‑term height, and start light, regular pruning early so it never reaches a size you can’t manage.

For a tidy hedge that stays within bounds, once‑a‑year trimming is the bare minimum, and many gardeners find that two lighter trims – one in late spring or early summer, and another in late summer – give the best results. The idea is to nip back the season’s soft growth before it gets too long, keeping well within the green foliage and never exposing bare, brown wood. Regular light trimming keeps the hedge dense and manageable, and is far less work overall than trying to tackle a wildly overgrown wall of green every few years.

If your garden is very small, or if you’d like a hedge that needs less frequent trimming, there may indeed be better choices – such as slower‑growing conifers or broadleaf evergreens that top out at a more modest height. However, Cupressocyparis still has a place where a strong, tall screen is genuinely needed and there is space to maintain it sensibly. In practice, many nurseries will suggest Leylandii for larger boundaries, rural plots or situations where a quick, tall windbreak is essential, and other species for lower or more delicate hedges closer to the house.

Alders have a lot to offer wildlife, especially in and around water. Their catkins provide early pollen for insects, the canopy gives birds shelter and perching points, and the bark, leaves and cones support a range of invertebrates that feed into the wider food chain. Planted beside ponds, streams or ditches, they help create a more natural, layered habitat that benefits birds, amphibians and insects alike. As with any tree near water, it is sensible to allow enough room for the roots and to manage leaf fall, but in general Alnus is a very wildlife‑friendly choice.