Italian Cypress, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Italian cypress gives you a tall, narrow evergreen for entries, driveways and formal gardens, and it will grow in SW Florida, but it is fussier here than in a dry Mediterranean climate. It wants full sun and sharp drainage, and our humid summers invite spider mites, canker and root rot. Set it on a mound in an open, sunny spot. We deliver and plant 15 gallon trees.
- Light:
- Full sun
- Water:
- Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established, but wet soil kills it
- Salt:
- Moderate
Italian Cypress sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Italian Cypress | 15 Gallon |
Italian Cypress in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 30 to 40 ft or more tall and only 3 to 6 ft wide
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established, but wet soil kills it
- Salt tolerance
- Moderate
- Cold tolerance
- Very cold hardy; SW Florida winters are no problem
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 3 to 5 ft on center for a solid screen
- Florida native
- No, native to the eastern Mediterranean
- Botanical name
- Cupressus sempervirens
Where Italian Cypress works in a SW Florida yard
Use Italian cypress for a tall, formal line: a pair flanking a front door or gate, a row along a driveway, or a narrow screen on a side yard where a hedge would take too much width. In SW Florida it does best on open, sunny, well-drained ground, so skip low yards that flood in summer and tight, airless corners.
Agave, society garlic and Texas sage suit its Mediterranean look.
- Formal entry accents
- Narrow privacy screens
- Mediterranean-style courtyards
- Driveway and gate flanking
How our crew plants it
Pick the sunniest, best-drained spot. Dig the hole 2 to 3 times as wide as the root ball and no deeper, with the top of the root ball an inch or two above grade, and build a broad mound on low lots. Backfill with native soil and mulch 2 to 3 inches deep, off the trunk.
Stake a 15 gallon tree loosely for its first year, water at the base, not overhead, and use the extra watering allowed for new plantings in Lee and Collier before tapering.
Care after planting
- Once established, water deeply at the base and not often, and avoid overhead sprinklers that keep the foliage wet.
- Check for spider mites in dry spells by tapping a branch over white paper, and rinse the tree with a strong spray of water or treat it with horticultural oil if tiny specks move.
- Do not shear into bare brown wood, which rarely regrows, and trim only light green growth.
- Feed in spring and early fall with a slow-release fertilizer, and skip nitrogen and phosphorus from June 1 to September 30 in Lee County, Naples and Marco Island.
What to watch for
- Spider mites show up as bronzing or browning from the inside out, mostly in dry weather, and they are easiest to stop early.
- Cypress canker causes sunken, resin-oozing patches and branch dieback, thrives in humid, stressed trees, and has no reliable cure, so cut out dead branches and replace trees that keep declining.
- Root rot kills it in wet or poorly drained soil, and in our rainy summers it often has a shorter life than in a dry Mediterranean climate.
Italian Cypress questions we hear
Do Italian cypress trees grow well in Florida?+
They can, but they are not the easiest tree for SW Florida. Italian cypress wants full sun and sharp drainage, and our humid summers and heavy rain bring spider mites, canker and root rot. A tree on a mound in an open, sunny spot has the best chance, but expect a shorter life than in a dry climate.
How far apart should I plant Italian cypress for privacy?+
Space them 3 to 5 ft apart, center to center, for a solid screen. Closer looks tighter sooner but cuts airflow, which these trees need in humid weather. For a formal pair flanking a door or gate, set them to match the opening, and keep both well back from the house.
How tall and wide does Italian cypress get?+
Plan on 30 to 40 ft or more in height and only 3 to 6 ft wide, reached at a moderate pace. The slim column is the whole point, but the height means keeping it away from power lines, roof edges and pool cages, and giving it open sky.
Why is my Italian cypress turning brown?+
Browning inside the foliage points to spider mites. Brown tips or a dying branch can mean canker, root rot from wet soil, or drought stress on a new tree. Check drainage first, then look for mites. Dead brown wood will not regrow, so cut out dead branches and watch the rest.
How close to the house can I plant Italian cypress?+
Keep it at least 8 to 10 ft from the house, pool cage and septic or drain lines, and well clear of overhead wires. The trunk is slim but the tree gets very tall, and a tight spot also blocks the airflow it needs to stay healthy in our humid summers.
How much does it cost to plant Italian cypress?+
Price depends on tree size and how many you want. Text us the address and the number of trees, and a planted price comes back by text, usually within the hour in the daytime. Half down holds the trees and a delivery day.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Italian Cypress
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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