Italian Cypress

Enclosed gardens create calm. And space. That has always been my credo.
Especially in the South – in the Mediterranean region – this principle works particularly well.
And sometimes, it may even lean toward the conservative. With hedges that have been used since antiquity.

The hortus conclusus, as the Romans called it.

My beloved Italian cypress

At this project in Spain, I was able to demonstrate how it works – with Cupressus sempervirens, the symbol of eternal life among evergreen hedges.

The variety ‘Totem Pole’ is deep green, grows slightly broader than others while still reaching upward – and can be cut back very hard if desired. Evergreen, tolerant of pruning, and robust.

Leaf mass creates coolness

The beauty of cypress hedges is that they not only look good – they do something.
The microclimate within such an enclosed garden is pleasantly cool. And that’s exactly the point: creating coolness through leaf mass. Because the greener it is, the cooler the surrounding air becomes.

Clarity, structure – and calm

Cypresses define space. They structure paths, frame entrances, and give direction.
And they bring that incredible sense of calm – visually, but also climatically.
In combination with open areas, they create contrasts that aren’t loud but clear.

And the more foliage there is, the quieter a garden becomes. It absorbs unwanted high frequencies.

A word on maintenance

Cypresses handle full sun with ease. Drought even more so. They love calcareous soil.
After the establishment phase, they require hardly any artificial watering. Tough and enduring – ideal for the South and a changing climate.

You only need to plant them well once; after that, they take care of themselves.