Modoc Cypress
Hesperocyparis bakeri
Care
full sun, part shade
low
33–98ft tall
Evergreen
Resistant
Coniferous forests of Modoc County (northeastern California plateau), 5000-6500 ft elevation
Care Guide
Planting
Plant your Modoc Cypress in full sun where it will receive at least 6 hours of direct daily light. This tree thrives in well-draining soil and tolerates the low-water conditions common throughout the Bay Area, making it an excellent choice for drought-prone gardens. Space it with room to grow - it will eventually reach 33 to 98 feet tall - and plant it in fall or early winter to establish roots before summer heat arrives.
After Planting
Water weekly during your first summer to help the tree establish, then gradually reduce watering frequency as it matures into a drought-tolerant native. This is a moderate-care plant that requires little pruning once established; let its natural conical shape develop without heavy shaping. The biggest mistake gardeners make is overwatering - remember this cypress evolved in high-altitude, sparse-rainfall environments, so err on the side of dry rather than wet.
Wildlife Supported
Insects
Obligate pathogen; alternates between cypress hosts and Juniperus in spring
Parasitoid wasp; larval development in developing cypress seeds July-September
Regional variant associated with high elevation cypress stands
Heteroecious rust fungus; telial host on Hesperocyparis species
Larval feeding induces gall formation on new foliage growth
Mixed conifer woodland ecosystem; provides microhabitat structure
Birds
Cavity nesting in dead/decaying cypress; forages for bark arthropods
Uses dense cypress foliage for nesting and roosting in Modoc Plateau region