Tree · Sonoran native
Arizona Cypress
Hesperocyparis arizonica · Cupressaceae
Also called: Cuyamaca Cypress, Smooth Arizona Cypress
Arizona Cypress (Hesperocyparis arizonica) is a low-water tree native to the Sonoran Desert region well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It thrives in full sun.
Arizona Cypress at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun
- Mature size
- 40-60 ft tall and 15-25 ft wide, forming a dense, narrow to broadly pyramidal crown.
- Growth rate
- Fast (roughly 4-8 in per year when young); relatively short-lived (about 30-50 years).
- Bloom
- N/A (conifer; gray-brown cones), Spring (non-showy cones)
- Cold hardiness
- Very cold-hardy; native to higher elevations and easily tolerates Tucson's coldest winters. No frost protection needed.
- Soil
- Prefers well-drained, rocky or sandy soils; tolerant of alkaline conditions. Good drainage is essential.
- Native range
- Sky islands and canyons of Arizona, New Mexico, west Texas and northern Mexico (typically 3,500-8,000 ft elevation)
- Best used as
- Windbreak/screen, Evergreen specimen, Wildlife and bird habitat, Native/water-wise landscapes, Christmas tree
- Wildlife
- Excellent bird habitat; seeds eaten by birds and small mammals and the dense foliage provides nesting and roosting cover. A good native, water-wise choice for wildlife gardens.
- Toxicity
- Not considered significantly toxic to people or pets.
How to grow Arizona Cypress in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Drought-tolerant once established but in Tucson's low elevation it performs best with occasional deep supplemental water. Soak to 2-3 ft roughly every 2-4 weeks in summer, less in winter. Avoid keeping the root zone constantly wet.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Low needs; native soils are usually adequate. A light spring slow-release nitrogen feeding can be used for young trees but is generally unnecessary.
Pruning & care
Minimal pruning; remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches and lightly shape in late winter. Like other cypresses, it will not resprout from bare old wood, so avoid cutting into leafless interior branches.
Notes
Arizona's native cypress and a more regionally adapted alternative to Italian or Leyland cypress, with attractive blue-green to silvery foliage (selections like 'Carolina Sapphire' and 'Blue Ice' are popular). More disease- and pest-tolerant in the desert than non-natives but still susceptible to cypress canker and bark beetles when drought-stressed; provide deep occasional water at low elevations.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension (Cypress Trees publication); USDA NRCS Plant Guide (Hesperocyparis arizonica); Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center