Scientific Name: Cupressus arizonica
Family: Cupressaceae (cypress family)

Overview: An increasingly popular Christmas tree due to its bluish-white, waxy color and excellent aroma.

Fun Facts: Commonly cultivated as an ornamental. Very fragrant (and somewhat sticky) because this species actually exudes its resin from glands on its scales.

Etymology: This species is called Arizona cypress because its native range is centered in Arizona. Some call it the ice-cedar because of its cedar-like (aromatic) wood and "icy" blue-white color of its foliage. The genus name Cupressus is the Latin name for cypress, whereas the specific epithet arizonica recognizes its native range being centered in Arizona.