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Cupressus sempervirens L.

This specimen is the oldest tree in Palermo and most likely one of the oldest cypresses in Italy.
It grows in the park of the XV century convent and the monumental cemetery of Santa Maria di Gesù, on the slopes of Mount Grifone; according to a local legend, it was generated by the miraculous rooting of a stick that St. Benedict – a.k.a. “the Moor” (1524-1589) – had stuck in the ground, next to the small house which later became a chapel and where he used to live.

It is a truly majestic specimen, despite the damage caused by lightning and man.
With an estimated age of 438 years to date (in 2018), it is 75.4-ft high. This cypress features a single trunk, leaning against the wall under the chapel, with large buttresses at the base, small cavities, and branches protruding at 8.2 ft from the ground; several prominent dry stumps have been caused by cuts.
The tree reaches a circumference of 10.3 ft at 6.2 ft from the ground, with a maximum width of 11.4 ft. Its foliage, 35.4 x 25 ft-wide, looks quite irregular due to the wind, lightning and old age.

How to reach it

From the Cemetery of Santa Maria di Gesù, follow the path to the Chapel of San Benedetto.

Botanical card

Evergreen and very long-lived tree (belonging to the Cupressaceae family), the cypress is native to the eastern Mediterranean (Cyprus, Rhodes, Crete, and Cyrenaica).
It is a thermophilic plant that can successfully tolerate drought and salinity but is quite sensitive to prolonged cold. The taproot anchoring system can adapt to shallow soils, by developing superficial and very extensive roots.

In Italy, it is often planted in rows near the roads to cemeteries and it is mainly present in Tuscany and Umbria where, together with olive trees, it’s a typical part of the landscape.

In Emilia-Romagna Region, it was used for hill reforestation but with poor results due to the unsuitable climate. In the 1950s, the appearance of a cryptogamic pathology called “bark cancer” threatened this species and encouraged horticultural to select more resistant varieties – now available on the market.
It is rich in several essential oils and thus appreciated by pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. The wood is resistant to woodworms and water: therefore, it is highly appreciated by many artisans, especially for lutherie, and in the naval sector, for the construction of boats.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)