Italian Cypress (Cupressus Sempervirens) 50 seeds (#48)

Italian cypress is a narrow, columnar evergreen tree native to western Asia and southern Europe. Its dark green to blue-green soft-scaled needles are short and wispy, and help hide the small oval tan cones.
Grow Italian cypress in full sun in average to dry soil with good drainage. Although it grows in several warm temperate climates, it will be troublesome to maintain in regions with high humidity, copious summer rains or cool summer temperatures. Best used as a screen or feature plant lining a boulevard or long walkway in front of a classic-architecture building, or framing a view or piece of sculpture. (info source: Learn2Ggrow.com)

Genus - Cupressus
Species - Sempervirens
Common name - Italian Cypress
Pre-Treatment - Required
Hardiness zones - 7 - 10
Height - 40-70' / 12 - 21 m
Spread - 10-20' / 3 - 6 m
Plant type - Medium Tree
Vegetation type - Evergreen
Exposure - Full Sun
Growth rate - Medium
Soil PH - Acidic, Neutral
Soil type - Laom, well drained
Water requirements - Drought tolerant, average water
Landscape uses - Feature Plant, Hedges, Screening / Wind Break, Street Trees
Leaf / Flower color - Dark Green / --

GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
1. Set the cypress seeds into a bowl of water to soak for approximately 24 hours.
2. Put approximately 1 cup of peat moss into a zip-top bag. Pour in 2 to 3 tsp. of water into the bag, then add the cypress tree seeds to the contents of the bag. Squeeze out any excess air from the bag as you seal it closed.
3. Put the bag containing the seeds into a cold location. The temperature needs to be between +1-+4C (35-40F). Leave the bag in the cold location for 30 days. Check on the contents of the bag every 3 to 4 days to make sure the peat moss remains moist, but not sodden wet. Spritz the peat moss with water as needed.
4. Remove the bag from their cold storage location. Put seed-starting compost into 10 cm (4") pots. Tamp down the soil well. Pour water into each of the pots until the soil is visibly well dampened.
5. Plant two to three cypress seeds per 10 cm (4") pot. Press them into the soil to a depth of between 3 mm (1/8") using the back of a spoon. Sprinkle a 3 mm (1/8") layer of seed-starting compost over the seeds.
6. Set the 10 cm (4") pots into a watering tray, or similar container. Set the tray in a warm, brightly lit area. Try to provide a temperature between +18-+22C (65-70F). Keep the tray away from direct sunlight, but try and provide about 6 to 8 hours of light daily. The soil in the pots needs to be kept on the moist side; add water to the tray as needed. Germination of seeds can take as long as 1 to 2 months.