A hardy, fast-growing conifer, it thrives on a variety of soils and sites and are commonly planted in gardens to provide a quick boundary or shelter hedge, because of its rapid growth. Although widely used for screening, it is a fast-growing evergreen conifer (18 to 36 inches per year in early years) with a dense, broad-columnar to narrow-pyramidal habit. It typically grows as a tree unless it is kept pruned as a hedge or specimen shrub. Leyland cypress has flattened sprays of gray-green foliage on slender upright branches, and dark brown fruiting cones, They are tolerant of pruning, but be prepared to prune often if you want to maintain a certain size or shape. Tolerant of high levels of pollution and salt spray. Grows 60 to 70 feet, 10-15 foot spread.