Characteristics
| Hardiness zone | 5b |
|---|---|
| Foliage type | evergreen |
| Plant form | pyramidal |
| Mature height | 30 feet |
| Spread | 20 feet |
| Light requirements | full sun |
| Moisture requirements | dry to average |
| Plant origin | North American native |
Carolina Sapphire Arizona Cypress
Botanical name: Cupressus arizonica ‘Carolina Sapphire’
A compact pyramidal accent tree with foliage that is gracefully fine and blue-green in color; use as a solitary accent in the yard or a large garden; it is also spectacular as a sheared topiary accent in the garden.
Ornamental Features
Carolina Sapphire Arizona Cypress has attractive bluish-green foliage which emerges powder blue in spring. The threadlike leaves are highly ornamental and remain bluish-green throughout the winter. Neither the flowers nor the fruit are ornamentally significant. The peeling indian red bark is extremely showy and adds significant winter interest.
Landscape Attributes
Carolina Sapphire Arizona Cypress is an open evergreen tree with a strong central leader and a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which can make it a great accent feature on this basis alone.
This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Carolina Sapphire Arizona Cypress is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Accent, Vertical Accent, Hedges/Screening, Windbreaks and Shelterbelts
Planting and Growing
Carolina Sapphire Arizona Cypress will grow to be about 30 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 years or more.
This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selection of a native North American species.
