Published: September 15, 2025 | Updated: September 25, 2026
A little lemon cypress tree is hard to resist during the holidays. Its lime green foliage and lemony scent make it a bright and festive addition to your holiday decor. But once you bring one home, finding the right spot for it can be a little tricky.
When I worked in a plant shop, I saw how quickly these little trees could dry out. Warm, dry winter air can turn the foliage from chartreuse to brown before you’ve even had your first eggnog.
Here’s how to care for your lemon cypress while it’s indoors, and what to consider if you’d like to keep it going after the holiday decorations have been put away.
A little lemon cypress brightens up the indoors in winter, but it needs the right spot to stay green. Image © pixelshot via Canva.com
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Where to Put Your Lemon Cypress Indoors
Give your lemon cypress tree the sunniest spot you have, ideally near a south-facing window. It’s an outdoor tree being sold as a holiday plant, so a dim corner or a spot across the room from a window won’t give it the light it needs.
If your windows don’t get much sun, a grow light can help provide extra light while you’re keeping the tree indoors.
Heat will dry out the small pot quickly. A bright, cool room is a better home for it than a warm living room. Keep it away from heating vents, radiators, and fireplaces, too.
If you bought it for a holiday table or mantel, you can still enjoy it there for a gathering. Just return it to its sunny spot afterward, and keep it clear of candles or other heat sources.
A sunny windowsill lets your lemon cypress join the holiday decor while getting the light it needs. Image © pixel shot via Canva.com
What Is a Holiday Lemon Cypress?
Your holiday lemon cypress isn’t just any random evergreen! It has an interesting backstory.
Lemon cypress houseplants are cultivated varieties of Monterey cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa), which is native to California’s stunning Monterey Peninsula.
If you’ve ever driven along that dramatic coastline, you may have seen these trees in their natural habitat, shaped by ocean winds.
The varieties you usually see sold as holiday plants are ‘Goldcrest’ and the smaller ‘Wilma.’ Their bright foliage releases that distinctive lemony fragrance when touched, hence the name “lemon cypress.”
Here’s where things get interesting (and a bit challenging): this outdoor tree, used to coastal air and plenty of sunshine, has been asked to perform as indoor holiday decor.
It’s a bit like asking a surfer to compete in a swimming pool. Technically possible, but not exactly their preferred element!
How to Water a Lemon Cypress Indoors
The small pots these trees come in can dry out faster than you’d expect, especially in a heated home. Check the soil every few days by pressing a finger into it.
When the top inch feels dry, water the tree thoroughly until water runs out of the drainage holes.
Let the pot drain before putting it back on a saucer or inside a decorative container. If your tree came wrapped in foil or sitting in a pot without drainage holes, take it out to water.
Water trapped around the roots can cause problems, even though the tree may look dry on top.
Try to catch the soil before it dries out completely, but don’t keep it constantly soggy. Checking the soil is more useful than watering on a fixed schedule: the right timing will depend on the size of the pot, the temperature of your room, and how much sun the tree gets.
Check the soil every few days and water your lemon cypress when the top inch feels dry. Image © pixelshot via Canva.com
Why Is My Lemon Cypress Turning Brown?
Brown foliage means your lemon cypress is stressed, but you’ll need to check the plant's soil and environment to figure out why.
The soil is dry and the foliage feels crisp: The tree may have gone too long without water. Water it thoroughly, let the pot drain, and check the soil regularly from now on.
The soil is wet: Make sure the pot has drainage holes and isn’t sitting in water inside a decorative container or sleeve. Let it drain fully, then wait until the top inch of soil feels dry before watering again.
The tree is near a heat source: Heating vents, radiators, and fireplaces can dry out a small potted tree quickly. Move it to a bright spot away from direct heat.
The tree is in a dim room: A lemon cypress needs plenty of light, even when it’s indoors. Move it to your sunniest window or use a grow light.
Branches that have turned completely brown are unlikely to turn green again. Focus on improving conditions for the foliage that’s still green!
If your lemon cypress is turning brown, you may need to do a little detective work to find the cause. Image © jing tao, Unsplash via Canva.com
Can You Keep a Lemon Cypress After the Holidays?
Yes, but it will have a better chance outdoors than as a permanent houseplant. If your tree is still green when the decorations come down, keep it in a bright spot and continue checking the soil until you can move it outside.
Whether it can stay outdoors year-round depends on the variety and your climate. ‘Wilma’ grows outdoors in USDA Zones 7–10, while ‘Goldcrest’ grows in Zones 7–11. Check your plant’s tag before planting it in the ground. If you’re unsure which zone you live in, you can find it using the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
If your winters are too cold, wait until spring to move your lemon cypress tree outside, then ease it into full sun. You can keep it in a pot, but check the soil often because pots tend to dry out more quickly outside.
And if you only bought your lemon cypress to enjoy for the holidays, that’s fine too. It doesn’t have to become a permanent houseplant to be worth bringing home!
It’s okay to enjoy your lemon cypress as a temporary holiday decoration. Image © pixelshot via Canva.com
A lemon cypress tree brings a festive touch to a cozy room. Image © pixelshot via Canva.com