Woodie's Picks: Four Cypress All-Stars for Privacy, Color & Year-Round Structure
If you’re looking to create a living wall that delivers privacy, blocks wind, and looks good in every season without constant fuss, these four cypress varieties are Woodie’s top picks.
In this blog, we will highlight four of our favorite cypress varieties: Leyland Cypress, Murray Cypress, Carolina Sapphire Cypress, and Gold Rider Cypress. The reliable beauties share a graceful, pyramidal habit and a dense, evergreen appearance. Still, each brings a distinct strength—speed, sturdiness, drought tolerance, or golden color—that lets you tailor the look and performance to your site.
Why These Cypress Are So Smart
Fast Growing
First, they're fast. Leyland and Murray cypress can put on up to three feet of new growth a year when they’re young, making them an ideal choice when you want quick results. You don’t have to wait a decade for a proper screen…you’ll see real height within just a few seasons.
Year-Round Structure
Second, they offer a serious four-season structure. These evergreens create a dense, planted wall that not only provides privacy but also helps muffle road noise, block wind, and visually anchor the landscape. Even in winter, you’ll have lush, green coverage: no bare spots or unsightly gaps.
Low-Maintenance & Design Friendly
Third, they’re low-maintenance but design-friendly. Once established, all four cypresses demand little more than sun, good drainage, and an annual light trim. And because they come in a variety of foliage colors, deep green, silver-blue, and golden, you can tailor both form and function to suit your site.
The Cypress All-Stars
Leyland Cypress
This is your classic highway of privacy: tall, stately, and deep green. Leyland is the go-to if you want a fast-growing, tall hedge or windbreak that can reach up to 60 feet. It’s ideal for long property lines or areas where maximum height is a concern. While it's graceful and dense, it’s not overly finicky — just give it room, sun, and good soil and watch as it transforms your outdoor space. For homeowners who want a polished, uniform look, Leyland creates one of the cleanest, most consistent screens you can plant.
Murray Cypress
Think of Murray as the tougher cousin of Leyland. It offers similar fast growth, but with stronger branches and better resilience, especially in stormy, humid, or windy sites. If your area experiences heavy winds or you want a hedge that can withstand more abuse, Murray is a wise, no-nonsense choice. Its improved structure also helps it stay full and shapely with less pruning over time.
Carolina Sapphire Cypress
If drought, heat, or sandy soil are concerns, Carolina Sapphire brings both beauty and resilience. Its silvery-blue foliage is fragrant and striking, and it thrives in poorer, rockier ground where other evergreens might struggle. Use it to create contrast or as a standout specimen — it’s as practical as it is pretty. Its airy, textured branches add movement and softness, making it a beautiful complement to bolder evergreens.
Gold Rider Cypress
Gold Rider Leyland Cypress is all about color-forward screening. You get the density and screening power of a Leyland-type cypress, but with a glowing golden-chartreuse tone that brightens any landscape.
In full sun, its foliage really pops. Use Gold Rider for entryways, corners, or anywhere you want a four-season glow. As it matures, its color deepens slightly, giving your landscape a warm, sunlit effect even in the middle of winter.
Planting & Care Tips
Start with full sun (6–8+ hours) and soil that drains after rain. These trees dislike chronically wet feet.
Step-by-Step
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Dig wide, not deep: Hole 2× as wide as the root ball, no deeper than the ball.
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Set the root flare level: Don’t bury the trunk; backfill with your native soil (skip heavy amendment “soups”).
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Water in slowly: Settle air pockets with a gentle, thorough soak.
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Mulch smart: 2–3" over the root zone, pulled a few inches off the trunk.
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First-season moisture: Deep, infrequent soaks; check more frequently in hot or windy conditions.
Design Ideas & Layout
To achieve a tight, fast-growing screen in a single row, plant Leyland or Murray 6–10 feet apart; Carolina Sapphire at 6–7 feet (or wider if allowing it to spread), and Gold Rider at 8–12 feet to balance color and air circulation. For an even richer, more private wall, try a staggered double row — place a second line of trees 6–8 feet behind, offset for better fill and airflow.
Mixing species creates visual rhythm: alternate Gold Rider with Carolina Sapphire for a striped look of gold and blue. For function, put Murray on the windward edge for strength, then back it with Leyland or Gold Rider. Use a single Carolina Sapphire as a specimen against dark siding or brick to highlight its luminous foliage, or flank a gate with Gold Riders for a glowing entrance at sunrise and sunset.
Common Questions (Woodies Quick Answers)
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How close should I plant them?
Use the spacing above; for fastest closure, plant toward the tighter end. For long-term health, lean slightly wider and rely on light shearing. -
Can I keep them shorter?
Yes—start shaping early and prune lightly once or twice a year. Don’t cut into old, brown wood on Leyland types. -
Are they deer-resistant?
Carolina Sapphire is typically moderately deer-resistant. The others may be sampled under heavy pressure—use deterrents if deer are persistent until establishment. -
Any caveats with Leyland?
It’s fantastic when sited and spaced well, but can be prone to cankers and root issues if crowded or waterlogged. Choose Murray for extra sturdiness in stormy or humid areas.
Ready to Transform Your Landscape?
Measure your property, determine the ultimate height of your screen, and select your spacing based on how quickly you want the wall to close in. Once you plant, follow the simple steps above — wide holes, correct grade, deep water, and mulch — and set a monthly “health check” to catch problems early.
If you tell us your Zip code, sunlight exposure, soil type, and total footage, Woodie’s team will help you design the ideal mix of Leyland, Murray, Carolina Sapphire, and Gold Rider cypress. We’ll even calculate how many plants you need for perfect spacing. Plant them this season, and you’ll have a robust, evergreen, and beautifully structured screen for years to come.