Cypress family, Cupressaceae
Origin: eastern and central North America
Habitat in the original area: a wide range of habitats from dry rocky outcrops to swampy soils
Habitus: A tree growing to the height of up to 30 metres with a narrow conical crown. The older bark is reddish-brown and peels in narrow longitudinal stripes.
Leaf: The green juvenile needles are of a needle-like shape, oppositely arranged; adults are scaly, rhombic-ovate. They overlap by more than a quarter of their length.
Bloom, fruit: It forms spherical or ovoid up to 6 millimetres long blue, thickened cones. Their surface is covered with a grey coating. They contain 1–2 seeds.
Interesting fact: The plants begin to form cones at the age of about 10 years. Even when ripe, they do not fall, but remain on the tree through the winter. The entire plant is poisonous.
