Cupressus arizonica

Arizona cypress is in the cypress or Cupressaceae family and is native to the southwestern United States (Arizona, Utah, southwestern New Mexico), and southern California and in Mexico. It can reach a height of up to 25 m and diameter of 0.5 m.

• Leaves are evergreen, scale-like, tightly held on the twig in opposite pairs, resulting in a twig that is compact, square shape. Colour is gray-green to silvery blue.
• Seed cones are round and 2 to 3 cm long, woody, serotinous (open with fire), with 6 to 8 pointed scales, initially whitish -green colour, turning gray-brown after maturing in 2 years.
• Bark peels in strips to expose gray, brown, green patches.
• Cupressus arizonica var. glabra has white resin spots on its scale-like leaves which distinguish it from C. arizonica. It is often called smooth Arizona cypress and is usually grown under the names of Cupressus arizonica or Cupressus glabra.