Monterey cypress vs Leylandii Goldrider?

rinimuksz1HWKtca

Hello all,

I have been doing some research on this but I’m finding some inconclusive information from different sources. Would anyone be able to help please,

I would like to know which one of these 2 species of tree grows taller per year, max height reached, and also, which one has a wider spread?:

the Monterey Cypress (cupressus macrocarpa Goldcrest) 

Or

the Gold Leylandii/ “Castlewellan” (Cupressus Leylandii Goldrider)
Leylandii 

Thanks very much for your help 

Fairygirl

I'm afraid that's a 'how long is a piece of string' question 
Leylandii grows quite quickly from the start, even though the golden one is slightly less vigorous than the green. The Goldcrest cypress will be slower, so the leylands are definitely bigger and quicker. 
However, virtually all conifers [apart from leylandii] will grow quite slowly until they get to around 5 - 10 years. Then they can grow more rapidly. They're generally long lived, and can just keep growing. Leylandii can reach 80 or 100 feet if conditions suit them, which is why they're used for hedging. Spread is large too. Most gardens simply couldn't cope with a specimen that size. The cypress will probably get to around half of that ultimately, so it's still pretty hefty.
If you're wanting to keep either to a particular height, you'll need to trim regularly, and not cut back into old wood. 

rinimuksz1HWKtca

Fairygirl said:

I'm afraid that's a 'how long is a piece of string' question 
Leylandii grows quite quickly from the start, even though the golden one is slightly less vigorous than the green. The Goldcrest cypress will be slower, so the leylands are definitely bigger and quicker. 
However, virtually all conifers [apart from leylandii] will grow quite slowly until they get to around 5 - 10 years. Then they can grow more rapidly. They're generally long lived, and can just keep growing. Leylandii can reach 80 or 100 feet if conditions suit them, which is why they're used for hedging. Spread is large too. Most gardens simply couldn't cope with a specimen that size. The cypress will probably get to around half of that ultimately, so it's still pretty hefty.
If you're wanting to keep either to a particular height, you'll need to trim regularly, and not cut back into old wood. 

Thank you so much for this
It is very useful.

In terms of annual growth, does the Cypress grow at the same rate per year as the Gold Leylandii, or slower than it? Also are they both as widespread as each other, in terms of their foliage?

Thanks very much

Fairygirl

As I said earlier,  the leylands will grow much more quickly from the start, which is why they can cause a lot of problems if not kept under control from the word go.   
Width wise - ditto. They have a looser, more open habit, which is why trimming is so important with them. 
The cypress is a better behaved plant altogether. Although they're technically the same 'family', the habits are quite different.