Arizona smooth cypress, smooth sypress
Scale leaved with all leaves similar in appearance, glaucous-strongly glaucouswith central resin gland. Most glands with a speck of white resin (x10 lens). Branchlets form a dense 3-dimensional structure . Crushed foliage with resinous- grapefruit smell. Cones spherical and clustered on branches, often retained for several years. Cone-scales each with a blunt central spike. Bark with peeling patches revealing maroon-purple under-bark. Closely related to Arizona rough cypress (Cupressus arizonica) but is best distinguished by the patchy bark and the resin-flecks on resin glands.
Arizona smooth cypress was introduced to the British Isles around 1900 from it's native range in central Arizona, USA. The glaucous blue foliage, colourful bark, and attractive form have made this a popular tree in gardens large and small, though it's also seen as an amenity tree.