How to Identify Leyland Cypress Leaf

Overview

A fast-growing evergreen tree, the Leyland cypress (X Cupressocyparis leylandii) is an attractive landscape tree that grows 60 to 70 feet tall and 15 to 25 feet wide in a pyramidal shape. The Leyland cypress grows best in full sunlight exposure and in USDA Hardiness Zones 6 through 10, enjoying hotter summers and milder winters that don't experience temperatures colder than -5 degrees Fahrenheit. Leyland cypress trees can look very similar to other coniferous trees, but studying its leaves helps to make a positive identification of the correct tree species.

Step 1

Notice the leaf type to identify the Leyland cypress. This tree has scale-like foliage that's evergreen and has needles in flattened sprays of "branchlets" along the stems.

Step 2

Identify Leyland cypress leaves by how they're arranged on the stems. Leyland cypress trees have needle-like leaves that are arranged opposite each other in pairs along the stems.

Step 3

Look at the color to spot Leyland cypress leaves. Leyland cypress trees have soft-green needle leaves that turn bluish-green to dark blue-green as the tree matures.

Step 4

Study the length of the scale-like leaves. Leyland cypress trees have leaves that are less than 2 inches long, fine and feathery with pointed needles.