The Piute Cypress is an endemic evergreen tree native to Kern County in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. It grows to 30-50 feet tall and 20-35 feet wide, with scale-like blue-green aromatic leaves and shreddy bark exposing red-brown new bark. It blooms in spring with male and female cones on the same tree. The Piute Cypress is drought tolerant and used as a specimen tree, hedge, or for wildlife habitat in Southern California gardens due to its attractive shape and toughness. It provides excellent bird habitat and requires full sun, well-drained soil, and little supplemental water once established.

1. *Piute Cypress – Hesperocyparis nevadensis
(hes-per-oh-sy-PAR-us ne-vah-DEN-sis )
Family: Cupressaceae (Cypress Family)
Native to: Endemic to Kern Co/Sierra Nevadas; On dry hills, ridges and in ravines in mixed conifer/
broadleaved woodland with Pinus sabiniana, Quercus spp., Juniperus californica, Fremontia
californica, Yucca whipplei, and in valley scrub-grassland.
woody tree
mature height: 30-50+ ft.
mature width: 20-35 ft.
Woody evergreen tree, multi-trunked and similar to taller junipers. Shape pyramidal in youth;
usually more spreading-mounded with age. Leaves scale-like, blue-green to medium green and
aromatic when crushed. Attractive shape is enhanced by shreddy bark, exposing red-brown new
bark. Fast growth to 20 ft., then slower.
Growth characteristics:
Blooms in spring. Male & female cones on same tree. Female cones rounded, pale
red-brown in clusters at the ends of branches; may remain unopened for several years.
Blooms/fruits:
Uses in the garden: Most often used as a water-wise specimen tree in S. CA gardens. Nice size and
really tough. Fine on slopes and probably in large containers. Sometimes used as large hedge,
wildlife habitat.
Good for background in Asian-themed or Mediterranean-themed gardens.
Drought-tolerant shade tree.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native cypress, junipers.
Attracts: Excellent bird habitat: provides cover, nest sites and seeds for food.
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Full sun.
Any well-drained; any local pH.
Best with some supplemental water, but drought-tolerant: Water Zone 1-2 to 2-3.
Not needed; ½ strength probably fine.
Organic mulch recommended
Management:
Prune as needed or desired. Fairly care free. Watch for fungal diseases
Propagation: from seed: cold-moist pre-treat
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers):
by cuttings: yes
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12/3/13
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