Hesperocyparis macnabiana
Mcnab cypress
(c) Mike Heine, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cupressaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Hesperocyparis macnabiana (Mcnab cypress) is a native California shrub / tree in the Cupressaceae family, recognized by foliage color, resin, and cone shape diagnostic.
Mcnab cypress is a California native shrub found in northern Coast Ranges, California Red Fir Forest, and northern Sierra Nevada Foothills in dry slopes, chaparral, and pine/oak woodland, often on serpentine at elevations of 300 to 1,460 meters. Growing as a large multi-trunked shrub or small tree 3 to 10 meters tall with fibrous gray-brown bark, this cypress features blue- to dull gray-green foliage that exudes copious, sticky resin. Its ultimate branches are distinctively four-sided and arranged in a single plane, creating a structured, compact growth form. The leaves are blue-green to gray, producing small pollen cones with 8 scales and seed cones 15 to 21 millimeters long that are generally gray to red-brown with distinctive upward-pointing conic projections. Its seeds are 3 to 5 millimeters long, glaucous, and dull brown with a conspicuous attachment scar.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; foliage color, resin, and cone shape diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry slopes, flats, chaparral, pine/oak woodland, often on serpentine
Elevation: 300-1460 m
California counties: Butte, Tehama, Nevada, Napa, Lake, Shasta, Sonoma, Mendocino, Yuba, Mariposa, Amador, Los Angeles, Siskiyou, Colusa, Yolo
Outside California: reported from southwestern Oregon
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 macnabiana native to California?
Yes. Hesperocyparis macnabiana is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Hesperocyparis macnabiana grow?
Hesperocyparis macnabiana occurs in Butte, Tehama, Nevada, Napa, Lake, Shasta, Sonoma, Mendocino and other counties, at elevations of 300-1460 m.
What plant family does Hesperocyparis macnabiana belong to?
Hesperocyparis macnabiana is in the Cupressaceae family, genus Hesperocyparis.
What habitat does Hesperocyparis macnabiana grow in?
Hesperocyparis macnabiana grows in dry slopes, flats, chaparral, pine/oak woodland, often on serpentine.
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.