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![]() 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.
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![]() 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.
kwl - 12/04/2013
Can this be planted in Saint Louis and survive our winters?