Cuyamaca cypress
Hesperocyparis stephensonii
Last reviewed: September 2026
Toxicity unknown
Cuyamaca cypress (Hesperocyparis stephensonii) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
300"–480" H × 120"–240" W
Bloom
Feb, Mar
Native to
CA
Pollinators
wind
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
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A rare, narrow evergreen conifer with a formal, upright conical form and scale-like blue-green foliage typical of cypress. Its clean, symmetrical shape makes it an easy substitute for ornamental non-native cypress.
Wildlife value
The dense evergreen crown offers year-round nesting cover and shelter for birds in an otherwise open landscape.
Common questions
- How much sun does Cuyamaca cypress need?
- Cuyamaca cypress grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Cuyamaca cypress bloom?
- Cuyamaca cypress blooms in February and March.
- Where is Cuyamaca cypress native?
- Cuyamaca cypress (Hesperocyparis stephensonii) is native to CA, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What pollinators does Cuyamaca cypress attract?
- Cuyamaca cypress draws wind.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Cuyamaca cypress? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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