Where to Find 20 ft Italian Cypress Trees for Sale

Italian cypress trees are a classic landscaping choice, adding a touch of Mediterranean elegance to any yard. With their tall, narrow shape and evergreen foliage, they make excellent accent or privacy trees. Most people are familiar with seeing them in their mature height of 40-60 feet. However, if you need a cypress tree that is already a decent height at time of planting, a 20 ft Italian cypress may be just what you need.

About Italian Cypress Trees

Italian cypress, with the botanical name Cupressus sempervirens, is native to the eastern Mediterranean region. It’s an upright, columnar evergreen conifer that grows fairly rapidly when young, up to 2-3 feet per year. Growth rate slows as trees mature. The foliage is scale-like and aromatic. Italian cypress thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It’s quite drought tolerant once established. Hardiness ranges from zones 7-11.

In the landscape, Italian cypress are extremely versatile. They make excellent accent plants, topiaries, screens, hedges, and windbreaks. The tall, narrow shape also lends itself well to creating living fences and enclosing outdoor spaces.

Benefits of Buying a Large Tree

For many homeowners, starting with a 20 foot Italian cypress offers advantages over a small nursery sapling. A few key benefits include:

• Immediate impact – A taller tree makes an immediate statement in the yard, You don’t have to wait years for it to grow to the desired height,

• Privacy faster – If you want a quick, tall screen for privacy, a 20 ft tree creates an instant barrier

• Higher survival rate – More mature trees suffer less transplant shock and are more likely to thrive.

• No staking needed – You can skip staking a larger tree since it already has an established trunk and root system

• Show off topiary shapes – Pre-pruned specimens maintain their columnar or other shaped forms right away.

So if you don’t want to wait for a small starter cypress to gradually grow over time, purchasing a 20 foot tree gets you closer to the finished look immediately.

Where to Find 20 Foot Italian Cypress for Sale

Searching for an Italian cypress tree that is already 20 feet tall does limit your options a bit compared to buying a 3 foot sapling. However, they are available from several reputable online nurseries and tree farms if you know where to look. Here are some top places to buy a 20 ft Italian cypress:

• Online nurseries – Reliable options that ship large trees include Fast Growing Trees, Nature Hills Nursery, The Tree Center, and Ty Ty Nursery. Expect to pay $150-$300 plus shipping.

• Local tree farms or nurseries – Check with farms and nurseries in your state or region to see if they grow and sell larger, more mature cypress trees. This avoids shipping costs.

• Landscapers or tree services – Some landscaping companies and tree installation services sell trees. Ask if they can source 20 ft cypress specimens.

• Wholesale growers – Larger wholesale growers who supply to landscapers may sell direct to homeowners. Just be aware they often have order minimums.

• Classified ads – Check Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace for people selling large cypress trees dug from their yard. Ensure it’s healthy first.

No matter where you purchase from, be sure to ask about guarantees, proper handling, and care instructions. Proper planting and aftercare helps ensure your 20 foot Italian cypress thrives for years to come.

Planting and Caring for a 20 Foot Italian Cypress

Getting a 20 foot cypress properly planted and established takes some extra care compared to a small tree. Here are some tips:

• Dig an extra wide planting hole, at least 1.5-2x the width of the root ball. The large roots need adequate room to spread out.

• Carefully place the tree in the hole. One option is to bring in a tree spade to move it. Or have landscapers experienced with large trees do the planting.

• Stake the tree for the first year until roots settle in. Use wide nylon straps to prevent bark damage.

• Water deeply 2-3 times per week for the first 3 months. Then weekly for the rest of the first year.

• Apply a slow release fertilizer at time of planting and again in spring. This encourages root establishment.

• Apply 2-3 inches of organic mulch around the base out to the drip line. Keep mulch 6 inches from the trunk.

• Prune only lightly in early years. Allow the tree to focus energy on root growth.

Follow aftercare guidelines from the grower. Once the roots establish and the tree recovers from transplant stress, it will take off growing quickly. Then you can start shaping and pruning it as desired.

Designing With 20 Foot Italian Cypress Trees

The striking narrow form of a 20 foot Italian cypress makes it a fabulous architectural element in landscape design. Here are some ideas for showcasing these trees:

• Flank the front entry to a home or line a driveway for an elegant look. Space trees 10-20 feet apart.

• Use pairs to frame a front walkway or markers along a path.

• Plant in a row as a living screen or windbreak. Space 8-15 feet apart.

• Situate them on both sides of a gate, arbor, or garden archway.

• Place single specimens in corners of a yard or property borders.

• Topiary shapes like spirals add modern flair. Underlight at night for drama.

• Grow in containers on the patio or beside a pool. Keep rootbound to restrict size.

With proper care, a 20 foot Italian cypress tree will grow for decades, becoming a focal point in any landscape. Starting with a more mature tree means you get to enjoy the beauty and benefits of these classic evergreens right away.