Hesperocyparis macrocarpa

Monterey cypress

Family: Cupressaceae · Type: tree · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Monterey cypress is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) native tree found in northern and central coastal California, including the Monterey Peninsula and Point Lobos, in closed-cone pine and cypress forests at elevations below 50 meters. Its crown is distinctive, asymmetric and often open, with rich brown bark aging to ash-gray that becomes increasingly textured with age. Growing 18 to 25 meters tall with cylindric branches less than 1.2 millimeters in diameter, the tree displays bright to dark green foliage. Its seed cones are spheric to elliptic, 20 to 32 millimeters long, with 8 to 12 shiny scales that partially open at maturity. The tree produces seeds 2.5 to 5 millimeters long in dull red-brown to black coloration, with a conspicuous white attachment scar.

Habitat: Closed-cone-pine/cypress forests

Elevation: < 50 m in native range

Bioregions: NCo, CCo, SCo (native to Monterey Peninsula, Point Lobos), widely planted, naturalized outside native range.

California counties: Marin, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Humboldt, Monterey, Del Norte, Mendocino, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Alameda, Ventura, Santa Cruz, San Diego

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.