Choosing the Perfect Arizona Cypress Tree Size for Your Landscape

The Arizona cypress is a stunning evergreen tree that can bring striking architectural beauty to landscapes across the United States. With its bright green foliage that turns silvery blue in winter and itspyramidal shape, this tree makes a gorgeous focal point. However, before planting an Arizona cypress, it’s key to understand how large it will grow so you can choose the right size tree for your needs.

The Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica) is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. This conifer is extremely drought-tolerant and adaptable to growing conditions across USDA zones 7-9. The leaves of the Arizona cypress are scale-like and arranged in sprays giving the tree a feathery fine-textured look.

One of the most prized features of the Arizona cypress is its color. The foliage emerges bright green when new and matures to a rich green. In winter, the leaves take on a showy silvery blue or glaucous hue. This striking color change makes the tree pop in the landscape.

In spring, Arizona cypress trees produce small cones with rounded scales. The bark of the tree is fibrous and reddish-brown in color. With its vertically oriented branches and pyramid shape, the Arizona cypress makes a useful screen or windbreak. It also works nicely as a standalone specimen tree or planted in rows.

Arizona Cypress Tree Sizes

Arizona cypress trees are available from nurseries and garden centers in a range of sizes, from small starter plants to mature trees. Choosing the right size for your needs depends on your landscape objectives and available space Here’s an overview of the sizes available

Container Grown Trees (1-5 feet)

• Seedlings – Very small starter plants in 1-2 gallon pots, usually 1-2 feet tall. Best for growing on over several years.

• Young trees – Larger saplings reaching 3-5 feet tall, often sold in 3-5 gallon containers. Nice affordable smaller trees ideal for tight spaces.

Balled & Burlapped Trees (5-15 feet)

• Mid-sized trees – Trees standing 6-10 feet tall with a 2-3 inch trunk diameter, sold balled & burlapped. Offer instant landscape impact.

• Large trees – Big mature trees 10-15 feet tall with 4-5 inch trunks, balled & burlapped. Make a bold statement.

Mature In-Ground Trees (15-60 feet)

• Specimen trees – Huge mature Arizona cypress trees from specialist nurseries, standing 15-60 feet tall for immediate drama. Require professional transplantation.

As you can see, Arizona cypress trees can range tremendously in size. Keep reading for tips on selecting the right size tree for your particular needs.

Choosing the Best Arizona Cypress Tree Size

When deciding which size Arizona cypress to plant, here are some key factors to consider:

• Purpose – Are you looking for a screen, hedge, standalone specimen, or other landscape feature? Different sizes work better for certain purposes.

• Available space – Make sure to account for the tree’s expected maximum height and width at maturity.

• Budget – Larger balled & burlapped and mature trees have higher price tags than container nursery stock.

• Timeline – With smaller trees, you’ll wait years for full size. Larger trees provide immediate impact.

To help choose the right Arizona cypress tree size, review the typical uses for different sizes:

Container Grown Trees (1-5 feet)

• Accent or feature in container gardens or smaller landscape beds
• Low budget option for eventually growing into hedge or screen
• Allow flexibility in rearranging the landscape over time

Balled & Burlapped Trees (5-15 feet)

• Privacy screens, hedges, and windbreaks planted in rows
• Individual specimen trees for focal points and accents
• Broad landscape impact within a few years of planting

Mature In-Ground Trees (15-60 feet)

• Grand specimen trees for parks, large properties, and upscale landscapes
• Towering screens and hedges for security, noise reduction, and privacy
• Immediate sense of scale and drama

As a general rule of thumb, smaller trees work well for residential landscapes, while larger trees make bold statements in commercial settings. Be sure to give your Arizona cypress ample room to reach its mature dimensions.

Arizona Cypress Growth Rate and Mature Size

Since the Arizona cypress grows quite large at maturity, it’s important to understand its growth habit when selecting your tree size.

• This conifer grows at a moderately fast rate, averaging 1-2 feet per year once established.

• It reaches a mature height of 40-60 feet and spread of 15-20 feet at full size.

• The tree has a strong central leader and pyramidal form with horizontal branching tiers.

• Arizona cypresses can live 80-150 years under ideal conditions.

With proper site conditions and care, even a small container grown Arizona cypress can transform into a mighty tree over time. For a more immediate impact, larger balled and burlapped options planted 15 feet apart create striking screens or hedges.

Give your Arizona cypress ample water and fertilizer while young and irrigate during droughts. Prune as needed to control size and shape. Remove dead or damaged limbs. No regular pruning is required once mature.

Achieve the Perfect Scale For Your Landscape

Choosing the right Arizona cypress tree size involves balancing your specific landscape needs with the tree’s growth habits and mature dimensions. Take time to visualize the right scale and proportions for your property.

Smaller container-grown trees are great for tighter residential spots and give you flexibility. For more instant impact, upgrade to balled & burlapped trees. For a truly dramatic statement, transplant massive mature Arizona cypress specimens with professional help.

With its year-round beauty and adaptability, the Arizona cypress makes a fantastic addition to gardens and landscapes across the country. Just be sure to allow enough room for it to showcase its majestic natural form. Careful tree size selection helps ensure your Arizona cypress reaches its full potential.