Botanical Name: × Cuprocyparis leylandii ‘Gold Rider’
Common Names: Gold Rider Leyland Cypress, Golden Leylandii, Golden Leyland Cypress
📌 Product Description
× Cuprocyparis leylandii ‘Gold Rider’ is a fast-growing, evergreen conifer prized for its vibrant golden-yellow foliage and dense, upright growth habit. This striking cultivar maintains its bright colour throughout the year, providing bold contrast in gardens and landscapes.
With its naturally conical shape and dense branching, ‘Gold Rider’ is ideal for creating instant privacy screens, windbreaks, or structured hedging. It responds exceptionally well to pruning, making it easy to maintain at the desired height and shape.
Highly adaptable and vigorous, this golden conifer performs well across most South African regions and is particularly valued for its rapid establishment and year-round screening ability.
📏 Size When Fully Grown
Height: 6 – 10 m (can be maintained lower with pruning)
Spread: 2 – 3 m
Growth Habit: Upright, dense, conical evergreen
Growth Rate: Fast (60 – 90 cm per year under ideal conditions)
🌱 Best Growing Conditions
Light: Full sun (best colour development)
Soil: Well-draining soil; adaptable to sandy, loamy, or clay soils
Water:
- Water regularly during establishment
- Once established, moderately drought tolerant
- Avoid prolonged waterlogged conditions
Feeding: Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in early spring to support vigorous growth.
Maintenance:
- Prune regularly to maintain hedge shape and height
- Best trimmed in spring and late summer
- Avoid cutting into old woody growth where possible
🌦️ Planting & Growing Season (South Africa)
Best Planting Time: Early spring or early autumn
Active Growth: Spring and summer
Climate Suitability: Suitable for most South African temperate and coastal regions
Frost Tolerance: Tolerates moderate frost once established
Wind Tolerance: Excellent windbreak plant
🌼 Additional Benefits
- Fast-growing privacy screen
- Striking golden foliage year-round
- Excellent wind and noise barrier
- Low maintenance once established
- Strong structural garden element
🌿 Ideal Uses
✔ Privacy hedging
✔ Windbreaks
✔ Boundary planting
✔ Formal garden structure
✔ Feature evergreen accent
