Santa Fe Botanical Garden

Common name: 'Blue Ice' Arizona cypress

Family: Cupressaceae (Cypress)

Distribution: Cultivated

Hardiness: USDA Zone 5 (-20 to -10 °F)

Life form: Evergreen tree

Occurrence in New Mexico: Cultivar

Growing Conditions: Arizona cypress is native to regions of the southwest where rainfall averages between 15-20 inches a year, occurring mostly in the summer monsoon season. The tree ranges from lowland areas to up to 5,000 feet elevations in some parts of Arizona. 'Blue Ice' is a vegetatively propagated clone. It should be planted in full sun, and withstands hot temperatures and wind. It prefers well-drained soil, and may develop root rot if soil is too moist. It is drought tolerant. Although some references state the tree survives only to USDA zone 7 winters, it will survive in colder locations with good wintertime drainage in full sun.

Description: This selection of Arizona cypress grows fairly slowly, reaching about 15 feet tall after 10 years, but eventually maturing at 40-50 feet tall and 15-20 feet wide. It has a compact pyramidal growth habit when young. Waxy, scale-like needles are spirally arranged against the stems and soft to the touch. When grown in the sun, the foliage is silvery-blue due to the resinous coating. Male and female flowers occur on the same tree. The small, oblong male cones are quickly dropped but the female cones, ¾-1 inch in diameter, mature in autumn of the second season and persist on the tree for many years.