Hesperocyparis abramsiana
Santa cruz cypress
(c) John Rusk, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cupressaceae · Type: Tree · Native
Hesperocyparis abramsiana (Santa cruz cypress) is a native California tree in the Cupressaceae family, recognized by differentiated by location in Santa Cruz Mountains.
Santa cruz cypress is a rare California native tree found in the central coast ranges in mixed evergreen forest and chaparral at elevations between 300 to 1,200 meters. Growing as an evergreen tree 6 to 10 meters tall with distinctive bark that breaks into thick vertical strips of gray-brown, its branches are slender and cylindrical. Its foliage is a light bright to deep green, with branches approximately one millimeter in diameter. The tree produces small pollen cones about 3 to 4 millimeters long and seed cones 16 to 30 millimeters wide that are spheric to widely elliptic and brown. Its seeds are 3 to 5 millimeters long, typically dull brown to iridescent black with a conspicuous attachment scar.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; differentiated by location in Santa Cruz Mountains
Habitat and range
California counties: Santa Cruz, San Mateo
How to tell it apart
vs Cupressus: Same genus (Cupressus is old name for Hesperocyparis); check current taxonomy for your region.; vs Juniperus: Hesperocyparis has woody cones with 6-12 scales; Juniperus has fleshy berry-like cones.; vs Pinus: Hesperocyparis has tiny scale leaves; Pinus has long needles in bundles.; vs Sequoia: Hesperocyparis has 3D spreading branches and persistent closed cones; Sequoia has horizontal branches with flat needles.; vs Cedrus: Hesperocyparis has scale leaves and round cones; Cedrus has needles in clusters and upright barrel-shaped cones.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hesperocyparis abramsiana native to California?
Yes. Hesperocyparis abramsiana is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Hesperocyparis abramsiana grow?
Hesperocyparis abramsiana occurs in Santa Cruz, San Mateo.
What plant family does Hesperocyparis abramsiana belong to?
Hesperocyparis abramsiana is in the Cupressaceae family, genus Hesperocyparis.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.