Plant of the Month: Arizona Cypress

The Arizona cypress ( Hesperocyparis arizonica or Cupressus arizonica) is a tall evergreen tree native to Arizona’s uplands. In the wild, it is found at elevations over 3,000 feet. It is extremely cold tolerant and drought resistant and makes an attractive landscape tree if you have room for it.

The tree grows to a height of 40-75 feet, with many reaching just about 50 feet in height. It also requires about 15-20 feet of space around it when mature, so it is suitable only for larger gardens and yards. It’s a beautiful evergreen and makes an excellent windbreak or year-round shade tree.

It likes full sun, but in the lower elevations will require some supplemental water once it’s established. It needs monthly deep waterings once the tree has established, although during the summer it should be watered deeply every other week to prevent drought stress. Just after planting it will need more frequent watering for the first two years or so, but be careful not to overwater it as it can develop damping-off fungus in wet conditions.

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It needs well-draining but not excessively rocky soil. It needs no pruning or fertilization — in fact, fertilizer application can damage or kill it. It is hardy to around 0 F so it’s great for higher elevations around Tucson. It is pretty resistant to deer and rabbits, so it may be a good choice for areas where these animals are difficult to exclude.

The Arizona cypress is a great habitat tree, providing shelter and food for many local birds and small mammals. If drought-stressed (as many are in the wild) it is susceptible to bark beetles. The tree is a relatively fast grower (a few inches per year) and can live for decades. It grows into a beautiful pyramidal shape when given space.