Name: Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Goldcrest’ aka lemon cypress

Type of Plant: A bright lime-yellow dwarf evergreen that has a columnar, cone shape. Hardy in a warm Zone 7 to Zone 10.

Why I Love This Plant: This soft-looking small tree is sold as a holiday plant in the Northeast, and the brilliant lime color is perfect to brighten up a house and compliment other seasonal plants. The foliage has a lemony fragrance, and this is an easy plant to grow in a container. On Cape Cod it’s not reliably hardy but would grow well in a three-seasons room or as a houseplant.

If you put up a train set, either at this time of year or outdoors in the summer, this is the perfect small tree to use near the tracks.

A Word to the Wise: If you buy this plant at now, right before Christmas, repot it in a slightly larger clay pot right away. Most of these are rootbound when you buy them, so they’ll be easier to keep alive if they are repotted when you bring them home.

Don’t let this plant dry out. Water it well at least once a week, inside or out. If it’s in a container outdoors during the hot summer, water it at least every other day.

If you live in a very warm Zone 7, you can plant these outside, in a protected location in full sun.

The lemon cypress is the perfect color and texture to compliment Poinsettias, Anthuriums and other winter holiday plants.

Since they are usually quite root-bound when you buy them, it’s good to step them up to a larger pot right away…that way, the plant won’t dry out as quickly.

The Goldcrest cypress is a good plant to use in electric train displays.

These dwarf evergreens don’t need to be pruned much, but if you want to shape it, do so in the spring when you put the plant outside for the summer.

Add a ribbon, a bird, or other lightweight decor if you wish. Decorated or left natural, this is a lovely plant.