Hesperocyparis bakeri
Baker cypress, siskiyou cypress, Siskiyou Cypress
(c) Themodoccypress, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cupressaceae · Type: Tree · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Hesperocyparis bakeri (Baker cypress) is a native California tree in the Cupressaceae family, recognized by bark color and cone features diagnostic.
Baker cypress is a California native tree ranked 4.2 by CNPS, found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada, and Modoc Plateau in mixed-evergreen forests and open slopes, often on serpentine terrain at elevations of 1,100 to 1,800 meters. A distinctive conifer with bark that peels in irregular plates in shades of red-brown to gray-brown, this tree grows 7 to 30 meters tall with ultimate branches less than a millimeter in diameter. Its foliage ranges from dark to gray-green, with small seed cones 10 to 18 millimeters wide that develop a warty, silvery to dull brown surface. The tree produces small, spheric pollen cones about 2 to 3 millimeters long with 6 to 10 scales. Its seeds are typically 3 to 4 millimeters long, often glaucous and tan to dull red-brown, marked with numerous distinctive pitch pockets.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; bark color and cone features diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Mixed-evergreen forest, open slopes, flats, often on serpentine
Elevation: 1100-1800 m
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
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 bakeri native to California?
Yes. Hesperocyparis bakeri is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Hesperocyparis bakeri belong to?
Hesperocyparis bakeri is in the Cupressaceae family, genus Hesperocyparis.
Is Hesperocyparis bakeri rare or endangered?
Hesperocyparis bakeri carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3.
What habitat does Hesperocyparis bakeri grow in?
Hesperocyparis bakeri grows in Mixed-evergreen forest, open slopes, flats, often on serpentine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.