Cupressus arizonica - Lockerly Arboretum

Volume 2, Issue 12
April 21, 2011
Cupressus arizonica
Table of Contents
Conifers at Lockerly, Part V
Cupressus arizonica, commonly known as
Arizona Cypress, is native to southwest Arizona, New
Mexico, and Mexico. In the wild, this species is typically found in small, scattered populations. It may reach 40
to 50 ft. tall at maturity. These evergreen conifers have
dense, fine-textured foliage, and the typical blue-green
color is a standout in any landscape setting.
There are several good cultivars of Cupressus
arizonica var. glabra (Smooth Cypress) available. These
cultivars are heat and drought tolerant, and they perform
very well in southern landscapes in full sun. Arizona
Cypress is also highly resistant to cypress canker, caused
by the fungal pathogen Seiridium, and it makes a good
alternative to Leyland Cypress. Young Arizona Cypress
plants grow very rapidly. Some of the best performing
cultivars at Lockerly are:
Cupressus arizonica pg. 1
Lockerly Awarded
Grant
pg. 2
Garden Center
pg. 2
Cupressus arizonica ‘Blue Ice’
‘Blue Ice’: Upright habit, frosty blue-gray
color, grows slowly to 15 ft. tall, wind tolerant.
‘Carolina Sapphire’: Upright broadly
pyramidal form with silver-blue foliage, rapid
growing.
‘Silver Smoke’: Narrow with open branching
and drooping tips, blue-gray.
‘Sulfurea’: Dense, columnar to 50 ft., frosted
yellow over blue-green foliage.
Cupressus arizonica ‘Carolina Sapphire’
Cupressus arizonica ‘Silver Smoke’
Cupressus arizonica ‘Sulfurea’
Lockerly Awarded Grant
Last week Lockerly was the recipient
of a $3,000.00 grant from the Garden Club of
Georgia’s Historic Landscape and Garden Grant
program. These funds will be used to extend
the pedestrian walkway in front of Lockerly
Hall. When completed, the new segment will
extend the existing walkway across the front of
Lockerly Hall and through the historic stone
wall on the east side of the house. Additionally,
a portion of the fieldstone wall will be rebuilt
on either side of the new walkway. This walkway will afford better access to the overflow
parking area and the Conifer Reference Garden.
Construction of this new feature is set to begin
next month. This project will enhance access to
the arboretum and Lockerly Hall, and we thank
the Garden Club of Georgia for their generous
support of our efforts to make Lockerly more
pedestrian-friendly.
Garden Center
Our Spring Plant Sale was a great success
on Friday and Saturday. We appreciate everyone’s
interest, and thanks go to all those who came out
for the sale! We would like to remind everyone that
we still have many plants for sale in our Garden
Center everyday. Come on out and browse our many
selections of plants during our hours of operation,
which are 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Monday through
Friday, and 9:00 am – 1:00 pm on Saturdays.