Kashmir cypress
Cupressus cashmeriana Royle ex Carrière
Kashmir cypress is an evergreen conifer whose drooping foliage gives the crown a distinctive outline. The RHS describes a tree that begins with a conical shape and broadens as it ages. Its reproductive structures are cones, while the soft-looking blue-green branch sprays remain the most conspicuous ornamental feature. RHS: Cupressus cashmerianaTrees of Stanford: Cupressus cashmeriana
Botanical name
Kew accepts Cupressus cashmeriana Royle ex Carrière; ITIS uses the catalog’s shorter Carrière citation for the same named species. Kew POWO: Cupressus cashmerianaITIS: Cupressus cashmeriana
Recognizing the plant
Long, flattened sprays carry small scale-like leaves with a vivid bluish bloom. Branches hang downward rather than forming a stiff horizontal framework. The specialist account distinguishes its persistent seed cones by their size relative to closely similar cypresses and their complement of up to fourteen scales. The RHS places mature trees above twelve metres in height, with a spread of several metres. These dimensions describe a substantial tree even though young specimens may be grown under glass in colder climates. RHS: Cupressus cashmerianaGymnosperm Database: Cupressus cashmeriana
Native range
Kew places its native range in Arunachal Pradesh in the eastern Himalaya, far east of Kashmir. The specialist account records it above evergreen hardwood forests and on limestone cliffs, in a landscape with strongly seasonal monsoon rainfall. Kew POWO: Cupressus cashmerianaGymnosperm Database: Cupressus cashmeriana
Botanical sources
- ITIS: Cupressus cashmeriana
- RHS: Cupressus cashmeriana
- Trees of Stanford: Cupressus cashmeriana
- Gymnosperm Database: Cupressus cashmeriana
- Kew POWO: Cupressus cashmeriana
Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.