Can I Grow An Italian Cypress On My Window Sill?

Question

A few years ago, I was walking in Chianti, in Tuscany Italy and admired all of the beautiful tall trees. I imagine they are Cypress trees! I picked up a cone from the ground and a year or more later put the seeds in a pot with soil. Now, two years later, I have a tree growing in my apartment in NYC! By now it’s about 4 feet and still growing! I need advice. Can I keep it growing as it is? Perhaps prune the top to make it stop getting taller once it reaches the maximum height for my apartment? Should I plant it outside? I see that our hardiness zone appears to be 7b which I think is the minimum zone temperature/climate requirement to plant this type of tree. However, I’m not even sure of what the tree actually is. I’m guessing that it’s a Cypress based upon its appearance and from where it originated. Any advice would be most welcome and appreciated! This tree has become a labor of love and like a part of the family! Thank you, Steven

Answer 1

It does appear to be a cypress, and a tall cultivar at that!

It is just a tad late to start the bonsai process, but it could make a good outdoor container tree.

Most Cypress are hardy down to zone 5 or so. These articles will give you more information on their care:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/italian-cypress/growing-italian-cypress-trees.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/growing-trees-in-containers.htm

Answer 2

Thank you for that wonderful, kind and generous answer!
Could I ask if you think the tree can survive in the pot it's in? Will it eventually outgrow the pot? And if so, will it begin to struggle and die? If the life of the tree is threatened where it is, I'll try to find a place outside to plant it but if there's a way I can keep it, for a long while, I'd like to. I don't know what to expect going forward into the future considering the size pot it's in.
If trimming the root ball is easy and something a novice can do, and it will help me keep the tree, let me know and I'll investigate that option.
Thanks again so much!!
Steven