Cupressus arizonica (Arizona Cypress)
Cupressus arizonica, commonly known as the Arizona Cypress, is a large evergreen conifer with a distinctive woody, pine-like fragrance and an elegant conical shape.
It has striking blue-green to silvery-grey foliage, composed of tiny scale-like leaves flattened against the twigs. The twigs are arranged in a spray-like pattern that gives the tree a delicate, lacy appearance. The tree is dotted all over with round cones as a final touch.
The bark is also very attractive, especially in mature trees. The outer layers of bark peel away to reveal inner layers that transition from beige to reddish.
It is a hardy, drought-tolerant tree native to Arizona, West Texas, and northern Mexico. However, its striking appearance and low maintenance have led to its cultivation worldwide.
Quick Overview
TYPE
HEIGHT & WIDTH
BLOOM TIME
SUNLIGHT
HARDINESS
DROUGHT TOLERANCE
ORIGIN
Arizona Cypress Botanical name
- Botanical name: Cupressus arizonica (ku-PRES-us air-ih-ZO-nih-kuh)
- Family: Cupressaceae (koo-preh-SAY-see-ee)
- Synonyms: Hesperocyparis arizonica (most recent classification)
- Common name: Arizona Cypress
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Cupressus | Derived from the Greek word “kuparissos” referring to cyprus trees. It may also be associated with the myth of Kyparissos, a young man transformed into a cypress tree by Apollo. |
| arizonica | The Latin word derived from Arizona describes its origin. The Latin suffix “ica” is often used to indicate a relation to a place. |
How to identify Cupressus arizonica
Plant
Cupressus arizonica is a large evergreen conifer with a broad conical shape, ascending to horizontal branches and dense blue-green to silvery-grey foliage. The crown is sprinkled with brown cones that remain on the tree until conditions are right for them to open and release the seeds.
It has a straight trunk with smooth bark that develops deep grooves and flat ridges as it ages. As the tree matures, the thin flakes of outer bark peel away, revealing inner layers that can vary in colour from light beige to reddish-brown.
It is a fast-growing tree and can live for hundreds of years.
The size of this cypress is, on average, 12 – 18 m (40 – 60 ft) high and 4 – 6 m (13 – 20 ft) wide.
Stem
The stems of Cupressus arizonica branch from the bottom of the trunk. They are cylindrical and slightly grooved, and their colour varies between beige and reddish brown.
They ascend (at a 45- to 90º angle) and progressively subdivide into alternate shoots that radiate in all directions, creating three-dimensional sprays that give the tree its distinctive texture and appearance.
The twigs are covered by tiny, flat, scale-like leaves. These leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, alternating and overlapping along the length of the twig, creating a quadrangular or cylindrical “needle”.
Leaf
The leaves are scale-like, have a waxy coat, and can vary in colour from grey-green to blue-green or silvery-grey. They are oval-shaped with pointed tips.
The size is around 1 mm, so small that individual leaves are difficult to see. What stands out is the overall pattern they form:
The leaves are overlapping and tightly arranged in alternating opposite pairs. They are pressed closely against the twigs, resulting in a “needle” with a quadrangular form. These green needles are what we can easily see.
Flower
The flowers of Cupressus arizonica are small cones. Unlike typical flowers, they do not have a calyx, corolla, stamens, or pistils, instead they have a central axis with scales and bracts.
The male and female cones are separate but exist on the same tree.
Male Cones
The male cones are small and cylindrical, measuring about 3-5mm long and 2mm wide.
When mature, they turn yellow-green and can be easily seen at the tips of branches.
From mid-winter to early spring, these male cones are covered in pollen, which the wind disperses to fertilize female cones on the same or nearby trees.
Female cones
The female cones are ball-shaped (globose) and are larger, about 2-3 cm long and 2-2.5 cm wide. They have 6-8 opposite scales that are glossy, wrinkled and have a blunt point at the centre.
Before fertilization, the female cones are tiny and light green with open scales. Then, the scales close up to protect the seeds and gradually become larger, glossy, and brownish-green.
As the seeds mature over several months, the cone gradually turns reddish-brown and woody. It can remain in this state for many years until conditions are favourable for the seeds to germinate, like, for example, strong heat from a wildfire or a dying branch.
Seeds
The seeds mature after one year between summer and late autumn. At this point, the cones turn silver brown, and the scales open slightly. In autumn or winter, the scales open more, and the seeds are finally released.
Each scale contains about 8-15 seeds, each averaging 4-5mm long and 3-4mm wide.
The seeds are dark brown, flattened, and have narrow wings that allow them to be carried by the wind to germinate in new locations.
After releasing the seeds, the cone can remain on the tree for several years.
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Cupressus arizonica Habitat
Cupressus arizonica is native to Arizona, West Texas, and northern Mexico, with its name derived from its prevalence in Arizona. It is well adapted to the arid and semi-arid climate of this area, tolerating both hot and cold dry conditions.
It typically grows in poor, rocky, and gravelly soils on sunny spots of mountains and ravines at elevations ranging from 1,000 to 2,650 meters (3,000 to 8,700 feet).
Cupressus arizonica Usage
Ornamental
The Arizona Cypress is prized for its elegant conical form and lacy texture, composed of dense blue-green to silvery-gray foliage that remains vibrant year-round, providing consistent structure to the garden.
Its distinctive form, texture, and colour create a striking focal point.
Its visual appeal and robustness make it a popular choice for low-maintenance gardens in sunny locations.
It can be used in the landscape in the following ways:
- Focal point: Its graceful conical form, lacy texture and striking blue-green to silver-grey foliage create a strong focal point that naturally draws the eye to it. Its strong silhouette contrasts with the more irregular shapes of other plants.
- Living walls and windbreaks: Its dense evergreen foliage create a solid living barrier when planted close together. This provides privacy, reduces wind flow, and blocks noise.
- Minimalist and formal gardens: Its clean, architectural form creates a pyramidal living sculpture that adds interest. Its neat silhouette contributes to a calm and uncluttered look, perfectly aligning with minimalist and formal design principles.
- Xeriscapes: Its drought tolerance and resilience to hot, dry summers make it well-suited for sun-exposed areas of xeriscapes.
- Christmas tree: Its conical form, evergreen foliage and cones make it very appealing as a Christmas tree. The silvery foliage resembles snow, and the cones look like jingle bells.
It can be combined with the following plants that thrive in similar conditions:
The purple flowers of Lavender, Rosemary or Russian sage combine well with the blue-green foliage of Arizona cypress.
The spiky and bold sculptural leaves of Yucca, Agave, Aloe and Euphorbia contrast with the soft, lacey texture of Arizona cypress.
The soft, flowing movement of ornamental grasses such as Stipas and Festuca contrasts nicely with the cypress’s solid, clean form.
Carpentry
The wood of Arizona cypress is very hard and durable, making it well suited for small carpentry.
Its resilience to weathering is particularly valuable for livestock fencing.
Erosion Control
These conifers are highly resilient to extreme weather conditions and poor soil, making them ideal for planting on slopes to help prevent soil erosion.
Biodiversity
Arizona Cypress provides a nesting site for birds and a food source for various wildlife species, such as squirrels and other rodents, making it beneficial for promoting biodiversity in your garden.
How to care for Cupressus arizonica
Cold exposure
This cypress can tolerate some frost and cold weather down to -15ºC (5º F). It can handle this by going into dormancy to conserve energy and resources and slowing down its growth. However, the soil needs to be well drained. Cold, soggy soil can be fatal to it.
While the cypress is still young, it’s more tender and may not resist extremely cold temperatures, so you will need to protect it for the first two winters until it is more established and more robust.
Wrap it with a white fleece during the coldest time of the winter and add a thick layer of mulch around its base to protect the roots from cold temperatures. Using gravel mulch is preferable because organic mulch will stay humid and can cause the plant to rot.
Sun exposure
Arizona Cypress needs full sun to thrive. The foliage becomes very thin when grown in shade.
In extremely hot climates or areas with intense sunlight, and especially before the young tree is established, you should protect it from the harsh afternoon sun. Offering partial shade during the hottest part of the day can shield the young cypress from excessive heat and intense sunlight.
Soil
Arizona Cypress thrives in poor, well-drained soils. It’s best to avoid planting it in damp locations, as it is not tolerant of soggy soil, which can increase the risk of root rot.
It can tolerant all types of soil PH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline soils.
Don´t fertilize the soil if you want the plant to stay robust and better equipped to handle extreme temperatures, and also to avoid nitrogen damage.
Watering
The Arizona cypress is very drought tolerant and can go for months without water once it is established (about 5 months of drought if the temperature is not too hot).
Once established, it does not need watering, especially if you want to maintain its neat dense structure. However, if there’s a long period without rain, especially if the winter was dry, you may give it a drink if you see it needs it.
During its first two or three years after planting, it’s essential to water the young cypress regularly. Depending on the soil and the temperatures, you may need to water it once a week, every two weeks or every three weeks.
When watering, be sure to give it plenty of water and allow the soil to soak thoroughly. This helps the water penetrate deeply into the soil, keeping it moist for longer periods and stimulating deeper root growth.
To preserve the soil´s moisture, mulch should be added around the plant’s root area. Preferably, the mulch should be gravel because organic mulch can lead to leaf rot.
Pruning
Arizona cypress should not be heavily pruned unless removing dead or diseased branches.
To keep it compact and neat, give it a light trim (without cutting into older wood) once or twice a year in early spring or late summer. This encourages denser branching and prevents the development of floppy branches.
When to plant Cupressus arizonica
The best time to plant Arizona cypress is during its winter dormancy. When planting, provide enough space for it to develop its characteristic conical shape.
How to propagate Cupressus arizonica
Cupressus arizonica can be propagated by seed or by cuttings.
Seed: Later winter to early spring
Since these trees are native to semi-arid and arid areas, where wildfires are common, they have adapted to reproduce in such conditions. Their seed cones usually open after being exposed to intense heat, allowing the tree to reforest areas devastated by fire quickly. So, the first step requires you to mimic those conditions.
- Place the cone in a hot place until it opens (oven or radiator)
- Sow the seeds in a well-draining medium. Lightly press the seeds into the soil, just covering them with a thin layer, as the seeds need light to germinate.
- Maintain consistent moisture but not soggy (cover with a plastic lid or bag) and provide indirect light.
- For best germination, maintain a temperature between 10 – 20ºC (50 – 70ºF). The seeds should germinate in five to six weeks or sometimes several months.
- Water from the base of the container (don´t water overhead)
- Once the seedlings have grown a few sets of true leaves, transplant them into individual containers and grow in cold frame during the first winter.
- Harden them to outdoor conditions and then plant them into their permanent positions after the last expected frosts.
Stem cuttings: semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer or early autumn.
- Cut the stem just below a leaf node or rip off from the mother branch to take a heel cutting.
- Remove the lower twigs, leaving a few pairs of upper ones intact.
- Plant in a well-draining medium. Keep the medium consistently moist and keep it in the shade until it is rooted.
- Once the roots have developed, transplant the rooted cuttings into individual containers and grow in cold frame during the first winter, exposing them to as much sun as possible.
As not all cuttings will root, take several to increase your chances of success.
Sources for this article
Article from Kew
Article from North Carolina Extension Center
Article from Wildflower.org