Arizona Cypress
Cupressus arizonica
Arizona Cypress is a tough, drought-tolerant evergreen conifer from the American Southwest, valued for its silvery blue-gray scale foliage. It makes an excellent windbreak and waterwise screen.
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Low; very drought tolerant once established
- Difficulty
- Easy
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Overview
Arizona Cypress (Cupressus arizonica) is a medium-sized evergreen conifer native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It typically grows 40 to 50 feet tall with a dense, conical to pyramidal form.
It is prized in landscaping for its attractive blue-gray to silvery scale-like foliage and its exceptional tolerance of heat, drought, and poor soils.
Fast-growing and adaptable, it is widely used for windbreaks, screens, erosion control, and as a regionally popular living Christmas tree in the Southwest.
How to identify it
- Foliage: Tiny, scale-like, gray-green to silvery blue-green leaves pressed tightly to the twigs in dense sprays; often aromatic
- Cones: Round, woody, gray-brown seed cones about 1 inch wide with several knobby scales, remaining closed for years
- Bark: Stringy and gray-brown, or smooth and reddish-purple flaking in some forms
- Habit: Dense, conical to broadly pyramidal evergreen tree
- Aroma: Foliage releases a resinous scent when crushed
Care & growing
One of the most heat- and drought-tolerant conifers for hot, dry climates.
- Light: Full sun
- Water: Very drought tolerant once established; water occasionally during establishment, then little needed
- Soil: Tolerates poor, rocky, alkaline, or dry soils; demands good drainage
- Temperature: Hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9; thrives in heat
- Feeding: Rarely necessary
- Propagation: From seed; cones may need heat to open
Avoid overwatering and poorly drained sites, which invite root rot.
Habitat & origin
Native to the mountains and canyons of the southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, west Texas, southern California) and northern Mexico, where it grows on dry, rocky slopes and in canyon bottoms.
It is widely planted across the Southwest, the Gulf states, and other warm, dry regions for windbreaks, screening, and ornamental use.
Frequently asked questions
Is Arizona Cypress drought tolerant?
Yes, exceptionally so. Once established it needs very little water and thrives in hot, dry, rocky conditions where many conifers fail.
Why are the leaves blue or silver?
The scale foliage carries a waxy bloom that gives it a gray-green to silvery blue color, a trait selected for in cultivars like 'Blue Ice' and 'Carolina Sapphire.'
Can Arizona Cypress be a Christmas tree?
Yes. It is a popular living and cut Christmas tree in the Southwest, valued for its dense conical shape and attractive silvery color.
Does it need much pruning?
Little is required. It naturally keeps a dense conical shape, though it can be lightly sheared as a hedge or windbreak.
Arizona Cypress guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Arizona Cypress.
