Arizona Cypress Hesperocyparis arizonica
Previously known as:
- Cupressus arizonica
- Phonetic Spelling
- hes-per-oh-SY-pair-iss air-ih-ZOWN-ih-kuh
- Description
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Arizona Cypress is a conical, broadly pyramidal growing conifer. It will grow about 4"-8" per year and reach a mature height of 40'-60' and a width of 15'-20'. Trunk diameter is 1'1"-1'8" wide. If creating a screen, you will want to plant at least 7' apart. It does best in full to partial sun. It has beautiful silvery blue/teal coloration year-round.
The branches are sturdy but have a lacy appearance. Its aroma and color interest make a great display in holiday greenery. Reddish-brown bark; susceptible to canker; foliage thins if grown in shade; can be used as a specimen tree or for windbreaks. This plant is moderately salt tolerant.
Arizona Cypress grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. It is moderately drought tolerant and salt tolerant, has a low water requirement once established, and can withstand the heat of summer. It grows well on slopes and in sandy soil as well. It is relatively trouble-free, and moderately deer resistant, making it a good choice for screening, compared to other fast-growing evergreen choices. A few varieties are sometimes grown as Christmas trees, especially in warmer areas of NC.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Blue Ice'
Commercially grown as a Christmas tree - 'Blue Pyramid'
- 'Carolina Sapphire'
Electric blue needles; Commercially grown as a Cristmas tree - 'Glabra'
- 'Glabra Limelight'
- 'Glauca'
- 'Golden Pyramid'
- 'Sapphire Skies'
- 'Silver Smoke'
- 'Sulfurea'
- 'Blue Ice'
- 'Blue Ice', 'Blue Pyramid', 'Carolina Sapphire', 'Glabra', 'Glabra Limelight', 'Glauca' , 'Golden Pyramid', 'Sapphire Skies', 'Silver Smoke', 'Sulfurea'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blue Ice'
Commercially grown as a Christmas tree - 'Blue Pyramid'
- 'Carolina Sapphire'
Electric blue needles; Commercially grown as a Cristmas tree - 'Glabra'
- 'Glabra Limelight'
- 'Glauca'
- 'Golden Pyramid'
- 'Sapphire Skies'
- 'Silver Smoke'
- 'Sulfurea'
- 'Blue Ice'
- 'Blue Ice', 'Blue Pyramid', 'Carolina Sapphire', 'Glabra', 'Glabra Limelight', 'Glauca' , 'Golden Pyramid', 'Sapphire Skies', 'Silver Smoke', 'Sulfurea'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hesperocyparis
- Species:
- arizonica
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- leaves are used as an anti-fungal
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southwestern U.S.A., Mexico
- Play Value:
- Buffer
- Screening
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- drought tolerant, heat tolerant, moderate salt tolerance, moderate deer resistance
- Edibility:
- Edible fruit
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Erect
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11b, 11a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- As a conifer, it does not produce fruits, producing grey-brown cones instead. The cones only open once the branch they are on has died.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Auriculate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Evergreen scales; green to blue-green or grey-green.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Light Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Recreational Play Area
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Hummingbirds
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Diseases
- Drought
- Heat
- Insect Pests
- Salt
