Lemon cypress trees come in two sizes: small and smaller. Grown outdoors in their natural habitat, the trees can grow to 16 feet (5 m.) tall. This is quite small for a cypress. The dwarf lemon cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa ) is the better choice for a houseplant. This small tree usually does not grow taller than 3 feet (91 cm.), making it perfect for indoor containers. The tree has many admirers, thanks to its green-yellow needle-like foliage, conical growth pattern and bright fresh citrus smell.