The Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica), is an evergreen conifer tree. This tree is a wonderful choice for xeriscapes and other types of desert landscaping.
If the root system has had time to spread and penetrate, it can withstand less water. Instead of needles, Arizona cypress has scales that are grayish. Gray foliage types are more common.
The Arizona cypress tree has microscopic, scale-like leaves that are available in a variety of green hues, including blue-green and gray-green. The monoecious Arizona cypress has little, yellow-green flowers at the terminals of the branches that are both male and female.
Arizona Cypress Plant
The Arizona Cypress is a species of North American tree that belongs to the Cupressaceae family and is native to Mexico and the southwestern United States. Arizona cypress can be used as a living or cutting Christmas tree.
Arizona cypress is a coniferous evergreen tree with a conical to ovate-conical crown. It has a particularly strong glue c. arizonica var. glabra, commonly grown as an attractive tree.
The Monterey cypress has showed weak resistance to cypress canker, in contrast. In environments with typical conditions, the fungus, which is a sickness brought on by Ceridium cardinale, grows consistently.
Arizona Cypress Plant Overview
- Botanical Name: Cupressus arizonica
- Common Name: Arizona cypress
- Family: Cupressaceae
- Plant Type: Coniferous evergreen
- Mature Size: 40 to 50 feet tall, 15 to 30 feet wide
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Type: Acidic, alkaline, loamy, sandy, well-drained
- Soil pH: Acidic, alkaline, neutral
- Bloom Time: Non-flowering
- Flower Color: Non-flowering
- Hardiness Zones: 7-9 (USDA)
- Native Area: Southwest United States, Mexico
Arizona Cypress Plant Species
The Arizona cypresses come in five different types, however some botanists consider them to be separate species. The detailed information of the species is as follows:
C.a. var. arizonica: This natural, quickly-growing evergreen grows to heights of 30 to 40 feet and a spread of 15 to 25 feet in North America. Compared to other juniper species, this one has green foliage with a silvery-grey sheen and more exposed branches.
C.a. var. glabra: Smooth Arizona cypress, or Cupressus arizonica var. glabra. Very smooth, non-mottled bark that might be pink, cherry, or grey in color distinguishes it from other trees. Most often, it is found in agriculture.
C.a. var. montana: The number of these trees is unknown because they are very hard to find.
C. a. var. nevadensis: Their wood is not of particular commercial value, many species are used ornamentally. In ancient Hellenic culture these trees were considered sacred to the gods.
How To Grow Arizona Cypress Plant
Arizona cypress grows from seed, but the process requires some effort and patience. The methods for growing it are as follows. Brown cones should be cut from this year’s tree and placed in a warm, dry, shady place.
The seeds should be spread evenly on the bottom of the container, covered with water and soaked for 24 hours. The seeds should be wrapped in a damp paper towel and sealed in a plastic bag. Store the seeds in the fridge for up to 30 days.
After a month of refrigeration, the seeds should be transplanted into small nursery pots with soilless potting mix. One seed should be pressed into each pot to a depth of about 1/4 inch. Keep the pots completely moist but not wet in a setting with indirect light and temperatures around 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
After planting, germination should occur after one to two months. After the first winter spent in the greenhouse, plant the seedlings in the ground the following spring.
Pruning
Arizona cypress can either be pruned to a height of approximately 3 feet or allowed to grow naturally into a loose, open, and 25 to 30 foot tall tree. Arizona cypress can be pruned to form a hedge.
It won’t need much pruning unless you get rid of dead, broken or diseased branches. If you decide to cut the tree down, take care. Cutting branches can leave the tree with open spaces because cypress plants don’t produce new buds on old wood.
In the spring, before new growth appears, you should prune. Late spring or early summer are good times to prune for shape or to restrict growth. They are perfect for pots since they are easy to maintain through pruning, which allows you to control their size over an extended period of time.
Also Read: Kalanchoe Plant
Propagation
The great way to propagate Arizona cypress is by cuttings. Guidelines for that are available here: The healthy plant, scissors, a plastic bag, soilless potting mix, a container, and rooting hormone are the first things you’ll need.
The fragile, green stem should then be cut with scissors immediately below the node. Cuttings ought to be between four and six inches length. Take off the bottom few needle-like leaves.
Put the stem in rooting hormone after dipping it in water. Insert the stem into a 2 inch-deep potting mix container. Maintain dry but moist at all times. Transplant the cutting to a new container or soil after three weeks.
Arizona Cypress Plant Care
Care for Arizona cypress is minimal but plays a very important role in its growth. The Arizona cypress can withstand hot, dry conditions and grows best in full sun and well-drained soil.
You can picture the ideal setting for these trees to develop if you think about their surroundings, where Arizona cypress trees naturally grow. It is given away as a young specimen between 6 inches and 1 foot tall, which can then be moved to an outdoor location.
It is very important to give them fertilizer and water as required. Care should be taken that they do not become sensitive to high temperatures.
Soil And Fertilizer
Arizona cypress can grow in a wide range of soils. That clay or sand can be viewed negatively. It can tolerate sandy, clay or loamy soils. The ground ought to have good drainage.
Each hole for planting a tree should be mixed with Waters Premium Mulch to ensure drainage. An Arizona cypress tree does not need to be fertilized. Unless there are specific and known nutrient deficiencies.
Use of fertilizer may accelerate growth, necessitating more irrigation. Use a high-quality granular fertilizer if you need to cultivate a cypress tree.
Light And Water
Arizona cypress needs a site that provides full sun for plenty of direct light. Arizona cypress can tolerate dry soils, but it does need at least 10 to 12 inches of water annually.
Faster growth is delivered when watered weekly by drip irrigation. any location chosen should offer proper drainage for optimal growth. It will grow better if it is watered regularly.
Temperature and Humidity
Arizona cypress tolerates hot, dry conditions like the American Southwest or Mexico. Areas with high humidity are prone to more diseases. In the United States, the Arizona cypress tree does best in USDA zones 7 through 9.
Pests and Diseases
The Arizona cypress is prone to numerous pests and illnesses. Bagworm larvae, which eat their way through the leaves, produce defoliation. Cypress bark beetles, which bore holes in trunks and can kill trees. It causes foliage.
The parasitic shrub called mistletoe inserts roots into tree branches and scavenges resources. If you can, remove the mistletoe from the damaged branches as soon as it appears to stop it from developing and spreading.