Hesperocyparis macnabiana - Common Bonsai,Conifer - Macnab Cypress, MacNab's Cypress Page

Hesperocyparis macnabiana, or MacNab Cypress, is a unique species of cypress tree endemic to northern California. This exceptional tree is one of the most widely dispersed native California cypresses, prospering in varied environments including chaparral, oak woodlands, and coniferous woodlands along the inner northern Coast Ranges and the foothills of the northern Sierra Nevada.
MacNab Cypress is an evergreen that can take on the form of a shrub or a small tree and often exhibits multi-trunk characteristics. It boasts a striking gray furrowed bark and fragrant foliage for which it's well-known. Admirers are further attracted by its appealing spreading crown, which is often broader than it is tall, lending it an impressive stature.
But what truly sets it apart is its dense, short and flat sprays of foliage, bright glaucous gray-green in color and exuding a strong spicy-resinous scent. Unlike most other California cypresses, the MacNab Cypress uniquely flaunts flattened sprays. Its small, scale-like leaves hold a prominent resin gland at their center and add to the tree's overall beautiful aesthetic with their acute apex.
MacNab Cypress's adaptability is highlighted by its robust seed cones, which remain closed until the parent tree is consumed by wildfire. This serotinous quality ensures a vigorous seed release to populate the freshly cleared ground post-fire, demonstrating the tree's stunning resilience.