The tall narrow trees of Cupressus sempervirens are characteristic trees of the Mediterranean landscape. With their dark green foliage, they contrast with the bright green of the Aleppo pines and grey green of the olives trees. C. sempervirens occurs both as a pyramidal and horizontal (broad crowned) form. In Greece, the horizontal variety grows naturally on Crete and on some other Aegean islands1 and are occasionally found on Skopelos. It is almost certain that they have been introduced but have now naturalised.

In the Orthodox faith cypresses are considered to represent regeneration. It is believed that they link earth with heaven and they have been planted around monasteries, churches and in cemeteries. 

The small leaves are overlapping and scale-like. The cones are round about 3cm diameter, as they mature they develop deep cracks which release the seeds.

1. Aristotelis Papageorgiou. Genetic differentiation of natural Mediterranean cypress (Cupressa sempervirens L.) populations in Greece.