From the mountains of the Far East to the city's parks

The Siberian cypress, discovered as recently as 1921 in the Russian Far East, was unknown for decades in the West. Two shrubs arrived in Finland as a gift in 1973, and in the 1980s the Siberian cypress gained popularity as a robust, low-growing evergreen shrub that could be substituted for Mountain pines (Pinus mugo) and non-hardy evergreens. The Siberian cypress, reminiscent of the Common juniper (Juniperus communis), is the only species in its genus. Its needles are initially needle-shaped, later becoming scale-like. The Siberian cypress is hardy as far north as Rovaniemi, and it has been planted in many parks and gardens. There are Siberian cypresses growing e.g. in Ala-Malmi park and in Ullaksenpuisto in Vuosaari.