I would like to identify a tree growing in Southern California. I include two pictures of it here. The specimens are about 10 ft. (3m) tall and planted about 4 ft. (1m) apart. The person owning the plants can't say much about them. They are being used as a screen in a narrow yard between houses, which is exactly how I would like to use this plant. I haven't been able to find out much about it so far and wonder if someone here could help me identify it and tell me if it's suitable for small yard use. Thank you in advance, Jose Hales-Garcia
Yes, unless these are a desert climate species of juniper I am not recognizing it looks like these are cypress (Cupressus). There are highly colored cultivars of Arizona cypress, such as 'Blue Ice' common in the trade up here, perhaps likely to be what you are offered down there as well. Strongly colored selections of Rocky Mountain juniper also produce a similar general appearance. 'Moonglow' is very common in outlets here. Two important points to be aware of: the hedge you are showing will get much bigger than it is now. And since cypresses are comparatively fast growing production nurseries seem to have a problem with keeping them potted on in a timely manner. Rootbound stock is commonly offered here. 'Blue Ice', 'Blue Pyramid' etc. seem to be more or less impossible to find with good (unbound) roots. There is also a tendency for comparatively big, pricey specimens to be all that is offered. One gallon stock, like you might like to use for a hedge you may find hard to get. Here similar silvery junipers are more easily found, in small and cheap sizes. This past fall a local big box had 'Moonglow' in both one and five(?) gallon for low prices.
