Arizona Cypress

Attributes:
The Arizona Cypress tree is exceptionally tolerant of hot, dry conditions. This makes it an excellent tree for its native habitat, the southwestern United States and Northern Mexico. In these locales it makes an good windbreak, and it is also widely used for soil erosion planting. It is grown as a Christmas tree and used in the landscape as an ornamental.

Wildlife Value:
The seeds of the Arizona Cypress are consumed by squirrels, ground squirrels, and other rodents.

History/Lore/Use:
The Arizona Cypress is a native of interior Mexico extending into the southwestern United States where it is the only native cypress. For a major species it was discovered by Euro-Americans rather recently in history. Credit for the discovery goes to E. L. Greene, who made the find in the 1880s. While authorities do not agree on the taxonomy of the Arizona cypress, two varieties are often listed. Cypressus arizonica var. arizonica has thick, fibrous, coarsely shedding, gray brown bark, dull gray-green needles with no resinous exudations. Cypressus arizonica var. glabra has smooth bark exfoliating in papery layers of purple to red, bright blue-green needles with resin glands.

Moisture:
Normal moisture requirements, but with good drought tolerance.

Leaves:
The leaves are gray-green and scale-like, closely overlapping each other and encircling the branchlets.

Flower Color:
Flowers are inconspicuous in the spring. Male is pale yellow-green color, female is light green.

Bloom Time:
April-May.

Fruit Description:
The fruit is a 3/4"-1" long, 1"-1 1/4" wide, dark reddish brown cone. Cones mature at the end of the second year but persist on the tree for many years.