Piute Cypress Hesperocyparis glabra
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cupressus arizonica var. glabra
- Cupressus glabra
- Cupressus glauca
- Phonetic Spelling
- hes-per-oh-SY-pair-iss GLAY-bruh
- Description
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The Arizona Cypress is a conical needled evergreen tree native to Arizona in the southwestern United States and often found in the rocky or gravelly soils of canyons and ravines. The tree cab mature to a height of 70 feet, although most are much shorter, and is noted for its hardiness, thriving in any soil from chalk to acidic sand. The tree will produce inconspicuous brown blossoms and seed cones that mature to gray or brown a few years after pollination. A mature tree will often have multiple trunks with smooth, dark red bark peeling in large scales.
The Arizona Cypress tolerates a wide range of soils and it drought resistant. However, it will not grow in shade and does best sited in full sun.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests. Resistant to cypress canker.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Blue Ice'
Compact form with blue needles - 'Chaparral'
- 'Limelight'
- 'Blue Ice'
- 'Blue Ice', 'Chaparral', 'Limelight'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blue Ice'
Compact form with blue needles - 'Chaparral'
- 'Limelight'
- 'Blue Ice'
- 'Blue Ice', 'Chaparral', 'Limelight'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hesperocyparis
- Species:
- glabra
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southwestern North America: Arizona
- Distribution:
- New Mexico south to Mexico, California east to Texas. Introduced into Italy.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- cypress canker
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Conical
- Erect
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- Female flowers bunched near tip of new growth, male cones mostly near last years fruit, flowers with 60 or more yellow tubes excreting a clear liquid.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The foliage has a bright blue-green (glaucous) aspect. The leaves are short, closely pressed to the twigs, acutely pointed, thickened and keel-shaped on the back, and resinous. The leaves die during the second year, turn a bright red-brown and remain on the twigs for about four years.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Scaly
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Bark is smooth and not furrowed, dark red, and can peel in large scales.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Poor Soil
