Blue Ice’ cypress is a compact, pyramidal evergreen with a unique silver-blue coloring

An evergreen that offers a unique color and texture for the winter landscape is the ‘Blue Ice’ cypress, or Cupressus arizonica var. glabra ‘Blue Ice’. The lacey texture of the silver-blue scaly needles is one of the main features of this small evergreen tree. Because of its unique color, ‘Blue Ice’ cypress can be used as a focal point. Other plants with rich shades of green will blend nicely with this icy blue tree.

Like most evergreens, this cypress prefers well-drained soils and sunny sites. It is deer resistant. This variety grows 20 to 25 feet tall, 10 to 12 feet wide, and is pyramidal in shape. Cypress grows densely, so it serves well as cover for birds. It also makes a nice windbreak or privacy hedge.

  Common Name:   Blue cypress

  Botanical Name:   Cupressus arizonica var. glabra

  Varieties   :  ‘Blue Ic e’ Foliage

 Color : Blue -gray

Type: Evergreen tree

Size: 20 to 25 feet tall, 10 to 12 feet wide

Watering: Occasionally, once  established

Exposure: Full sun

Pruning: Shear annually as needed in winter

Landscape Use: The blue cypress is a good accent plant, especially for the winter landscape. It can be sheared into topiary and spiral shapes for a striking focal point.

The lacy pattern of these needles are appropriately named ‘Blue Ice’ for this variety of Cupressus arizonica var. glabra.

From Missouri Gardener Volume III Issue VI. Photos courtesy of Alice Longfellow.