Lemon cypress

Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Goldcrest’

The lemon cypress tree, also called Goldcrest after its cultivar, is a variety of Monterey cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa), an evergreen tree belonging to the conifers. The foliage of this tree has a yellowish-green hue and a narrow, conical habit. It gets its common name from its leaves have a fragrance that recalls the smell of citrus fruits, particularly lemon. This tree has a native range limited to the Monterey bay on the coast of central California.

The Monterey cypress is a species of cypress native to the Central Coast of California. The native range of the species during modern times is confined to two small relict populations near Carmel, California, at Cypress Point in Pebble Beach and at Point Lobos. Historically during the peak of the last ice age, Monterey cypress would have likely comprised a much larger forest that extended to the continental shelf.

Some people use lemon cedar as an alternative to the traditional Christmas tree, taking advantage of its fragrance and color. But the leaves of the lemon cedar are soft and fragile and can not withstand the weight of heavy ornaments.