Carolina Sapphire Cypress

Cupressus arizonica ‘Carolina Sapphire’

Other Common Names: Arizona Cypress, Carolina Sapphire Cypress

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 7a-9b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Coniferous Evergreen Tree

Height at Maturity: 20-30′

Width at Maturity: 15’+
Spacing: 10′ apart for privacy scree; 18′ apart for space between trees

Growth Habit / Form: Conical, Pyramidal, Upright

Growth Rate: Fast

Foliage Color: Silvery Blue

Fragrant Foliage: Yes, pine scented

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun, Morning Sun with Afternoon Shade

Water Needs: Average, low when established

Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Sand, Silt

Soil Drainage: Well Drained

Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.0

Maintenance / Care: Very Low

Attracts: Visual Attention, Birds

Resistances: Deer, Disease, Drought, Dry Soil, Insect

Description

A fine alternative to Leyland Cypress, the Carolina Sapphire Cypress, also known as the Arizona Cypress, is the fastest growing coniferous evergreen tree we offer. Perfect for tall privacy screen plantings, it features very attractive silvery mint-green foliage that provides unique year round color and texture in the landscape. Specimens in our gardens have grown to to 30 feet tall and 10 to 12 feet wide in as few as 7 years. Combines beautifully with Leyland Cypress, evergreen Magnolias and many other types of evergreen trees in privacy screen plantings.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing in an upright pyramidal form 25 to 30 feet tall and 8 to 12 feet wide, the Carolina Sapphire Cypress is ideal for use in evergreen privacy screen plantings. It is also useful to frame in the corners of tall homes and other buildings or as a specimen or background anywhere in sunny landscape borders. A fine addition to conifer gardens, bird gardens, wildlife gardens and Xeriscape gardens (low water needs). Perfect for an outdoor Christmas tree!

Suggested Spacing: 10 feet for privacy screen plantings; 18 feet or more for space between trees

Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a, where this Cypress variety is not reliably winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring. That said, it will need a well-lit indoor location.

Growing Preferences

The Carolina Cypress is tolerant of a wide range of soils, even clay, preferring a moist but well-drained soil of average fertility and plenty of sunshine. Will tolerate light shade but plants in full to mostly sun are much fuller. Minimal to no maintenance, no pruning necessary to keep its dense, naturally conical form. Exceptionally drought tolerant when established.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Cypress trees.

How To Plant & Care For Cypress Trees

Privacy Screen Design And Planting Tips

Plant Long & Prosper!

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