Cupressocyparis leylandii ‘Castlewellan Gold’ is an evergreen conifer belonging to the Cupressaceae family, selected in Northern Ireland for its golden foliage and vigorous growth. It is a hybrid between Cupressus macrocarpa and Chamaecyparis nootkatensis, like the classic Leylandii, but stands out for the bright yellow color of its leaves, particularly pronounced in the new growth and sunny exposures.

This plant has an upright, conical habit, with dense, ascending branches that form a compact vegetative mass. The growth is very fast, allowing it to reach heights of up to 15–20 meters in free form, with a width of 4–6 meters. The leaves, scaly and persistent, are dense and soft to the touch, with a bright golden-yellow color, highly appreciated in hedges and modern gardens.

Cupressocyparis leylandii ‘Castlewellan Gold’ is an extremely hardy and versatile variety: it tolerates cold down to -15/-18°C, adapts to various soil types as long as they are well-drained, and effectively resists wind, urban pollution, and salt spray, making it suitable for coastal or urban environments as well. It prefers full sun exposure, which is necessary to achieve the best intensity of foliage coloration, but also grows well in partial shade.

The flowering is not very ornamental and consists of small yellowish male cones and green female cones, produced in spring. The fruits are spherical woody cones.

Thanks to its density and fast growth, Castlewellan Gold is widely used to create windbreak hedges, visual barriers, and ornamental backgrounds. It requires at least one annual pruning — two if a very formal hedge is desired — preferably done in late spring and late summer.

→ Discover Cupressocyparis leylandii, the classic variety with green foliage