Arizona Cypress

Full Sun

Acidic, Alkaline, Drought, Loamy, Sandy, Well Drained

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

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 has thick, fibrous, coarsely shedding, gray-brown bark and dull gray-green needles with no resinous exudations. Cypressus arizonica var. glabra has smooth bark that exfoliates in papery layers of purple to red and bright blue-green needles with resin glands.