Hesperocyparis forbesii

Common Names

Tecate Cypress, Forbes Cypress

Summary

Tecate Cypress is an evergreen conifer native to Southern California and northern Baja California, occurring in chaparral and related woodlands of the western Peninsular Ranges at elevations around 450–1500 m. It forms a small-to-medium, multi-trunk tree up to about 10 m tall, with a crown that is often rounded with age and bark that exfoliates in thin plates revealing reddish-brown underbark; foliage is bright green. Seed cones are dark brown, globose and 20–32 mm in size; seeds are released after fire, as cones are serotinous and often remain on branches for years before opening with heat; it is the sole host for the rare Thorne's Hairstreak butterfly eggs.

In cultivation, it tolerates drought and prefers full sun with well-drained soils; use includes specimen trees, hedges, and windbreaks in hot, dry interior Southern California landscapes, and it can contribute to erosion control and wildlife habitat. Fire regime is essential for regeneration since cone opening and seed release occur after heating; overly frequent fires threaten persistence. Conservation status includes California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, with threats from habitat loss and altered fire regimes; propagation is from seeds produced in serotinous cones.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

12-33 feet

Spread

10-25 ft

Hardiness Zones

Zones 6a-8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soils

Soil pH

5.0-8.0

Bloom Color

Yellow, males pale yellow-green; females light green

Bloom Time

Nonflowering

Foliage Color

Green (ranging from light green to bright green)

Fall Foliage Color

No fall color

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen needle

Growth Rate

2-3 inches per year

Seasons of Interest

Summer and Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds and butterflies