Arizona Cypress
Hesperocyparis arizonica
Arizona Cypress (Hesperocyparis arizonica) is a tree suited to the Colorado Front Range, rated "Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List. It matures to about 30–50 ft tall and 15–25 ft wide, slow-growing, needs low water, and prefers full sun. Seed source important.
low water30–50 ft tall and 15–25 ft wideXeric / water-wiseDeer-resistant
Photos
- Photo 1: (c) zebedeugalinha, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 2: (c) Aissa Djamel Filali, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Aissa Djamel Filali
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 7–10
- Water needs
- low water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Soil
- clay, loam
- Soil pH
- 6.0–8.2
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 30–50 ft tall and 15–25 ft wide
- Mature form
- Pyramidal
- Spacing / clearance
- ~25 ft of clearance
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Lifespan
- Long-lived
What it looks like, and when
- Foliage
- Evergreen
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- low
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
- Colorado native
- No
Site factors to consider
- Critical: Soil ChemistryOur alkaline clay locks up iron for this one, so leaves often yellow between green veins and growth stalls unless you treat it.
- Critical: Cold HardinessIt is only borderline hardy here, so a hard Front Range winter can knock it back or kill it; treat it as a gamble for a warm, sheltered spot.
- Watch: ExposureIt wants shelter; open, windy, reflected-heat sites batter it, so tuck it against a building or a windbreak.
Planting & establishment
Water deeply every 7–10 days through the first 2 summers (less for xeric pines in heavy clay, they're prone to root rot). Winter water 1–2×/month October–March when soil is dry and unfrozen, evergreens transpire year-round. Year 3: taper to twice per month in summer; only during extreme drought thereafter.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Arizona Cypress good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Arizona Cypress is a well-suited tree for Colorado's Front Range, rated "Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List.
- How big does Arizona Cypress get?
- It matures to about 30–50 ft tall and 15–25 ft wide.
- How much room does Arizona Cypress need?
- Give Arizona Cypress about 25 ft of clearance from buildings, fences, and other trees so the mature canopy isn't crowded.
- What shape does Arizona Cypress grow into?
- Arizona Cypress typically grows into a pyramidal, conical outline that is widest at the base. This is the species' usual mature form, named cultivars (columnar, weeping, or compact selections) can differ, so check the specific cultivar.
- Is Arizona Cypress hardy on the Front Range?
- Arizona Cypress is hardy in USDA 7–10. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b–6a, so it is at its cold edge here. Site it in a warm microclimate and protect young plants. That said, it carries a cold-hardiness caution: It is only borderline hardy here, so a hard Front Range winter can knock it back or kill it; treat it as a gamble for a warm, sheltered spot.
- How much water does Arizona Cypress need?
- It needs low water once established.
- How fast does Arizona Cypress grow?
- Arizona Cypress is a slow-growing tree. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- How long does Arizona Cypress live?
- Arizona Cypress is long-lived, a multi-generational tree given good siting and care. Actual lifespan varies with site, water, and care.
- Is Arizona Cypress native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Arizona Cypress deer-resistant?
- Arizona Cypress is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
