Arizona Cypress © Brandt Magic

Arizona Cypress

Scientific name: Cupressus arizonica

Family: Cupressaceae, Cypress Family. Arizona Cypress is found naturally on dry, sterile, rocky mountain slopes and canyon walls, but does very well when planted on better soils or when irrigated. It requires a minimum of 10 to 12 inches of water annually. It is not recommended for elevations of under 3,000 feet. It is not recommended for soils with a high water table. It requires full sunlight for best development, but is subject to sunscald when grown as an ornamental. Though it grows slowly under natural dry conditions, it is a rapid grower (up to 3 feet per year) on better soils with a good moisture regime. Arizona cypress generally requires little maintenance. Deep watering at least every other week is necessary for desert planting during the growing season. Do not plant the Arizona cypress where wildfires are a possibility as it is susceptible to fire. Arizona cypress ordinarily has few disease pests with its principal enemies being mistletoes and rusts. The cypress bark beetle may be troublesome by mining twigs on individual ornamentals but this is rare.

Description: Cupressus arizonica greene, Arizona cypress, is the only cypress native to the southwest. It is evergreen, with a dense, upright, conical crown.

Planting: Arizona cypress is usually available as 1 year old potted stock. It should be planted in areas where there is at least 10 to 12 inches of water available annually either naturally or through irrigation. Early spring is the best time for planting. For windbreaks 6-foot spacing in rows is recommended. Open sunlight is required for best growth.

Preferred Habitat: Dryer sites – widely planted ornamental

Leaves: Leaves are scale-like and grayish-green, bluish-green, or silvery, arranged opposite in pairs and tightly clasping the cord-like or four-sided twigs; they emit a fetid odor when crushed

Flowers: Blooms in Spring/Summer – Cones retained to Winter

Fruit: The cones are 3/4 to 1 inch in diameter, subglobose, dark reddish brown, with 6 to 8 shield-shaped woody scales. The cones mature in autumn of the second season but persist on the tree for many years.

Bark: Smooth reddish-brown bark that sometimes becomes fibrous with flat ridges.

Elevation: Up to 7000 feet.

Climate-ready Zones: USDA: 7-9

Frost Tolerance: Hardy to -15°F (-30°C)

Heat Tolerance: Excellent

Sun Exposure: Full sun

Origin: USA (central Arizona)

Growth Habits: Deciduous tree, 30-50 feet tall or more

Watering Needs: Needs very little when established (2 to 3 years after planting.) Requires a minimum of 10 to 12 inches of water annually.

Propagation: Seeds