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Hesperocyparis macrocarpa  (Hartw.) Bartel
Monterey cypress
© 2017 Bryant Baker
© 2019 Patrick Furtado
© 2019 Cynthia Powell
© 2023 Mary Conway
© 2022 Maria Alvarez
© null
© 2021 Cynthia Powell
© 2016 Danny Franco
© 2019 Susan McDougall
© 2018 Juergen Blank
© 2021 Ron Vanderhoff
© 2022 Eric Wrubel
Hesperocyparis macrocarpa is a tree that is native to California, and endemic (limited) to California.
This plant can be invasive in parts of California. California Rare Plant Rank: 1B.2 (rare, threatened, or endangered in CA and elsewhere).
Siskiyou Del Norte Modoc Humboldt Shasta Lassen Trinity Plumas Tehama Butte Mendocino Glenn Sierra Yuba Lake Nevada Colusa Placer Sutter El Dorado Yolo Alpine Napa Sonoma Sacramento Mono Amador Solano Calaveras Tuolumne San Joaquin Marin Contra Costa Alameda Santa Cruz Mariposa Madera San Francisco San Mateo Merced Fresno Stanislaus Santa Clara Inyo San Benito Tulare Kings Monterey San Bernardino San Luis Obispo Kern Santa Barbara Ventura Los Angeles Riverside Orange San Diego Imperial
Genus: Hesperocyparis
Family: Cupressaceae  
Category: gymnosperm  
PLANTS group:Gymnosperm
Jepson eFlora section: gymnosperm

Communities: Closed-cone Pine Forest
Name Status:
Accepted by JEF + CNPS + PLANTS + POWO

Alternate Names:
CNPSCallitropsis macrocarpa, Cupressus macrocarpa
JEF + PLANTSCallitropsis macrocarpa
JEFCupressus macrocarpa ssp. lobosensis
JEF + PLANTSCupressus macrocarpa
PLANTSNeocupressus macrocarpa
Information about  Hesperocyparis macrocarpa from other sources
Nursery availability from CNPLX
This plant is available commercially.
Jepson eFlora

USDA PLANTS Profile (HEMA22)

Photos on Calflora

Photos on CalPhotos

Google Images

Photos on iNaturalist

ID Tips on PlantID.net

Cal-IPC 2006: Species Native to Part of California, but Invasive in Other Parts of the State

[Wikipedia] Range, Description: Hesperocyparis macrocarpa also known as Cupressus macrocarpa, or the Monterey cypress is a coniferous tree, and is one of several species of cypress trees endemic to California. The Monterey cypress is found naturally only on the Central Coast of California. Due to being a glacial relict, the natural distributional range of the species during modern times is confined to two small relict populations near Carmel, California, at Cypress Point in Pebble Beach and at Point Lobos.Historically during the peak of the last ice age, Monterey cypress would have likely comprised a much larger forest that extended much further north and south. The seed cones are globose to oblong, 20-40 mm long, with 6-14 scales, green at first, maturing brown about 20-24 months after pollination. The pollen cones are 3-5 mm long, and release their pollen in late winter or early spring. The Latin specific epithet macrocarpa means "with large fruit". (link added by Mary Ann Machi)


Suggested Citation
Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals. [web application]. 2025. The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: 03/29/2025).