ITALIAN CYPRESS

The Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.) is an evergreen tree, native to the Eastern and Southern Mediterranean region, which can reach a height of 30 metres. It comes in two natural forms: the horizontalis variety whose branches spread out, like the cedar or pine tree and the sempervirens variety (= var. stricta = var. pyramidalis), a columnar shaped tree, which is the most common form used in gardening. This species stands out for its longevity, as some specimens are over 1000 years old. In the Alhambra, there is a long tradition of cultivating this tree, sculpting it in walls, arches and arbours or letting it grow freely. It was widely used in the Middle Ages and became very popular in the late 19th century. Together with the myrtle (Myrtus communis), the rose (Rosa spp.) and the pomegranate tree (Punica granatum), it is one of the most emblematic species of the Monument, lending its name to the Promenade of the Cypress Trees (Paseo de los Cipreses) in the Generalife and defining the landscape of the Albaicín.