Here's an example of a conifer that's certainly hardy in milder parts of the Northwest, but for whatever reason it is almost never encountered in nurseries or gardens. The Monterey cypress, Cupressus macrocarpa, is native to a small strip of the central California coast around Monterey, where its picturesque, wind-shaped habit recalls many a familiar postcard picture. The specimen pictured is one of two age-old plants in Port Townsend. Other, mostly smaller examples can be seen in Seattle, Bremerton, and Vashon Island, as well as one very large one on Fox Island. It is unlikely to perform as well in colder inland gardens. Although a beautiful tree, it can get large and should only be planted in gardens that have enough space to accomodate it.

Previous Plant Photos of the Month:
January - March 2008
January - August 2007