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 to 50 ft tall and 15 to 25 ft wide, slow-growing, needs low water, and prefers full sun. Seed source important.
low water30 to 50 ft tall and 15 to 25 ft wideXeric / water-wise
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 to 10
- Water needs
- low water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Soil
- clay, loam
- Soil pH
- 6.0 to 8.2
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 30 to 50 ft tall and 15 to 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
- Not rated
- Colorado native
- No
Also worth knowing
- Fire rating
- Ignitable (CSU): keep 30+ ft from the house, thinned
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 to 10 days through the first 2 summers (less for xeric pines in heavy clay, they're prone to root rot). Winter water 1 to 2×/month October to 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 to 50 ft tall and 15 to 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 to 10. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b to 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 a good firewise plant near the house?
- Arizona Cypress is an evergreen conifer, and CSU Extension notes conifers tend to be ignitable because of their oil and pitch, even when well watered, so keep it 30 or more feet from the house and keep it thinned and well maintained. This is general guidance based on CSU Extension Fact Sheet 6.305 (2025), not a guarantee that any plant won't burn, a well-irrigated, well-maintained plant is the goal. Follow CSU Extension defensible-space guidance and check with your local fire district before planting in the wildland-urban interface.
