Cupressus × arizonica var. glabra 'Blue Ice'
Smooth Cypress
- Position: Full sun
- Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but freely draining soil
- Rate of growth: Fast
- Hardiness: Fully hardy
A narrow columnar conifer displaying stunning feathery, silvery blue-grey foliage. This evergreen cypress has dense sprays of lacy, frosty needles arranged in spiral patterns along purple-red branches. Reaching 5m tall with a 2.5m spread in 10 years, the neatly conical form makes a striking vertical accent. Extremely drought and heat tolerant once established, 'Blue Ice' retains its cool blue colouring in hot summers and is best suited to well-drained sites out of strong winds. With its compact narrow habit and colour, this Cupressus makes an ideal tall hedge or specimen for minimal gardens, complementing contemporary architecture.
Remove any competing leaders that appear in spring, cutting out the weaker or crooked shoot cleanly at its base.