Virginia Tech Dendrology

Baker cypress Cupressaceae Hesperocyparis bakeri (Jeps.) Bartel symbol: HEBA5
Leaf: Evergreen, scale-like, decussate, tight and crowded on the twig in opposite pairs resulting in a square twig, gray-green with a dorsal resin gland on each leaf, aromatic.
Flower: Species is monoecious; males are small, pale yellow-green at ends of branch tips, often in abundance; females small near branch tips.
Fruit: Dry, round to nearly square, woody, serotinous (open with fire) cones, 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter, usually 6 scales with a pointed umbo near the top of each scale, gray-brown to silver at maturity.
Bark: Fibrous with shallow, irregular furrows, gray, thin and easily damaged by fire.
Form: A small tree, typically under 50’ tall with open, spreading branches.
Looks like: Arizona cypress - Tecate cypress - Monterey cypress - California juniper

Additional Range Information: Hesperocyparis bakeri is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database
All material © 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information