Torreya sp.
Torreya, Torreya
Family: Taxaceae · Type: Tree · Native
Torreya sp. (Torreya) is a native California tree in the Taxaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Sequoia: California-nutmeg has sharp-tipped aromatic needles and plum-like fruits; redwood has flat sprays of scale-like leaves.; vs Pseudotsuga: California-nutmeg has sharp-tipped aromatic needles and plum-like fruits; Douglas-fir has soft needles and hanging cones with pitchfork bracts.; vs Taxus: California-nutmeg has long, sharp-tipped aromatic needles; yew has short, soft needles and red cup-shaped fruits.; vs Abies: California-nutmeg has sharp spine-tipped aromatic needles; fir has soft needles and upright cones that disintegrate.; vs Afrocarpus: California-nutmeg has stiff sharp-tipped needles in flat sprays; Afrocarpus has broader, more leathery leaves spirally arranged.
Frequently asked questions
Is Torreya sp. native to California?
Yes. Torreya sp. is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Torreya sp. belong to?
Torreya sp. is in the Taxaceae family, genus Torreya.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.