Call us: 0800 843 752Free shipping for orders $150 or over
Gift Vouchers

cupressus sempervirens totem italian cypress

Cupressus sempervirens 'Totem', commonly known as Totem Italian Cypress, is a standout selection for gardeners who want a graceful, upright evergreen with classic Mediterranean flair. Perfect for New Zealand landscapes, the Totem Cypress brings columnar elegance and year-round colour to even compact gardens. Its slender form makes it a favourite for framing entrances, creating living screens, or adding a vertical accent in formal and contemporary designs. If you're seeking a hardy, low-maintenance conifer with enduring good looks, Cupressus sempervirens Totem Italian Cypress is sure to impress.

Cupressus Totem

5 from 2 customers

Cupressus 'Totem', otherwise known as the Totem Cypress, is a conifer valued for its slender, upright habit that brings an architectural effect. It carries delicate, fresh-green foliage which is held tightly on upright branches as it grows to 4 m tall and 1 m wide. Cupressus 'Totem' is an excellent plant for bringing height and depth to plantings, and it is often planted in a series or as pillars at an entranceway.

Cupressus 'Totem' (Totem Cypress) trees in a garden.
  • Suited to regions:
    All regions
  • Plant type:
    Conifers
  • Height:
    4.00 m
  • Spread:
    1.00 m
  • Tolerances:
    Extended dry periods, Hardy
  • Garden uses:
    Hedging, Parks, Screening, Specimen
  • Garden styles:
    Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Formal, Frontyard, Mediterranean, Modern
cupressus-gracilis-1
Most Popular

Cupressus Gracilis (Italian Spruce)

Cupressus Gracilis is a popular and versatile plant suitable for New Zealand gardens, offering year-round interest and unique appeal.

From$358.98
cupressus-sempervirens-stricta-2
Most Popular

Cupressus sempervirens Stricta (Pencil Cypress)

Cupressus sempervirens Stricta, commonly known as the Italian Pencil Cypress Tree, is a conifer that features dense, dark green foliage, and grows...

From$272.12
cupressus-green-spire-2
Most Popular

Cupressus Green Spire

Cupressus Green Spire is a conifer valued for its slender, upright habit that brings an architectural effect. It carries fine, dark -green foliage...

From$28.28
cupressus-blue-ice-4
Most Popular

Cupressus Blue Ice (Blue Arizona Cypress)

Cupressus Blue Ice is a popular and versatile plant suitable for New Zealand gardens, offering year-round interest and unique appeal.

From$176.17
cupressus-ovensii-3
Most Popular

Cupressus Ovensii

Cupressus Ovensii, commonly known as Ovens Cypress, is a hardy, fast-growing conifer native to Australia. It’s ideal for creating privacy screens...

From$28.28
Araucaria heterophylla tree growing with elegant form.
Most Popular

Araucaria heterophylla (Norfolk Pine)

Araucaria heterophylla, commonly known as the Norfolk Pine, is a large evergreen tree with a symmetrical, pyramidal form. It features dense, narrow...

From$450.68
Large Juniperus 'Kaizuka' trees as a cluster.
Most Popular

Juniperus chinensis Kaizuka

Juniperus 'Kaizuka', commonly known as the Hollywood Juniper tree or Torulosa Juniper, is an upright conifer with an oriental style. It bears...

From$299.92
Juniperus 'Skyrocket' shrubs with blue-grey foliage.
Most Popular

Juniperus 'Skyrocket'

Juniperus 'Skyrocket', commonly known as the Skyrocket Juniper or Rocky Mountain Juniper, is a popular conifer that grows as a broad column. It...

From$299.92
taxus-baccata-fastigata-
Most Popular

Taxus baccata Fastigata

Taxus baccata Fastigiata, commonly known as the Irish Yes, is a conifer grown for its attractive foliage and slender form. This evergreen has a...

From$210.73
Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd' hedge with bright green foliage.
Most Popular

Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd' (Green Cedar)

Thuja 'Smaragd', commonly known as the Green or Emerald Cedar, grows with a narrow, dense, and columnar habit. The foliage is rich green, sometimes...

From$33.68
Cupressus Totem

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring Cupressus or Conifer Shrubs.

Search Cupressus Totem

Why Plant Cupressus Sempervirens Totem Italian Cypress?

The Cupressus sempervirens Totem Italian Cypress is celebrated for its dense, dark green foliage and strikingly narrow silhouette. This cultivar is tougher and more adaptable than the classic Italian Cypress, making it an ideal choice for New Zealand gardens large or small. It thrives in full sun and prefers well-draining soils, with excellent tolerance for periods of dryness once established. The form stays tight and columnar without excessive pruning, making it very low-fuss.

Key Features

These attributes make the Cupressus sempervirens Totem Italian Cypress a versatile addition to any planting scheme, from bold driveways to soft evergreen screens.

Best Uses for Totem Cypress in Your Garden

Totem Italian Cypress shines wherever you need a touch of formality or structure. Use it in pairs to flank gates or garden paths for instant sophistication, or plant a row as a living wall for privacy. Thanks to its naturally slim shape, it’s also a strong choice for tight spaces or feature pots.

For gardeners considering alternatives or companions, explore Cupressus Gracilis (Italian Spruce) for a more feathery texture, or Cupressus sempervirens Stricta (Pencil Cypress) for another pencil-thin classic. The vibrant foliage of Cupressus Green Spire and stately Cupressus Ovensii offer further ideas for structured plantings.

Growing and Care Tips

Cupressus sempervirens Totem Italian Cypress prefers a sunny spot with good drainage. Water deeply while young, and mulch around the base to retain moisture. Once mature, this cypress shrugs off hot, dry summers and requires little supplemental watering. Pruning isn’t essential but can be done in late winter or early spring to maintain a tidy profile.

For distinctly blue foliage, consider Cupressus Blue Ice (Blue Arizona Cypress), or add variety with graceful forms like Cupressus cashmeriana and resilient evergreens such as Juniperus Pfitzeriana Aurea and Picea abies.

Discover More Elegant Conifers

Complement your Cupressus sempervirens Totem Italian Cypress with other eye-catching evergreens. The compact Abies koreana Alpine Star and golden-tipped Taxus baccata Dovastonii Aurea offer interesting texture and colour for beds, borders, and mixed conifer collections.

Bring Mediterranean elegance home with Cupressus sempervirens Totem Italian Cypress—the enduring, architectural choice for structure and style in New Zealand gardens.


Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

While Gardenia radicans and Azalea Pink Ice are household names, Azalea Gardenia Supreme, Achillea Anthea, and Heuchera Kassandra (Coral Bells) are rising stars in the plant world.
–The Plant Company

Explore Garden Inspiration

Sign up to receive a free $10 Voucher You won’t be bombarded with emails, just titbits of quality information from time to time Sign up
Free shipping on orders over $150!

Join our community of happy customers.

4.9

429 Google reviews