| Common Name |
Tecate Cypress |
| Latin Name |
Curpressus forbesii |
| Family |
Cupressaceae |
| Sunset zones / USDA zones |
8-14, 18-20 |
| Type / Form |
Tree / Medium |
| Native Habitat |
Southern California deserts from 1,500 to 4,000 feet |
| Soil |
Dry to moist, decomposed granite, sand, clay loam,
limestone, low to some organic content, well drained; like moisture but
does not require it |
| Water |
Once per month depending on soil in hot weather |
| Exposure |
Full sun |
| Height X Width |
15 feet X 10 feet, up to 25 feet X 15 feet |
| Protective Mechanism |
None |
| Leaves |
Evergreen, scale-like, keeled, tight and
crowded on the twig in opposite pairs resulting in a square twig, mostly
lacking gland; green. |
| Flowers |
Monoecious; males are small, pale yellow-green at
ends of branch tips; females small light green near branch tips.
Dry,
round, woody, serotinous (open with fire) cones, 1 inch in diameter, 6
to 8 scales usually with a small, raised point in center, initially
glaucous and green but turning dull brown when mature; mature in two
growing seasons and remain on branches for several years. |
| Bark / Roots |
Very attractive, shreddy and
peeling in long thin strips to reveal gray and reddish brown patches.
Twigs slender, square, covered in scale-like leaves, rounded at tips,
turning bright red with age; typically branch at nearly right angles.
|
| Maintenance |
Low |
| Propagation |
Seed |
| Pests and diseases |
|
| Landscape uses |
Erosion control, borders, low maintenance, background |
| Garden Suitability |
Thornless, Songbird |
| Ornamental Value |
Evergreen, grey/green, irregularly conical |
| Nature Value |
Host to insects and birds |
| Native American Uses |
None. |
| Links |
|
| Images and data |
http://www.cnr.vt.edu/DENDRO/dendrology/Syllabus2/factsheet.cfm?ID=784 |
| Images and data |
http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/cupfor/all.html |
| Images and data |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupressus_forbesii |
| Images and data |
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/63890/ |
| Images and data |
http://www.pinetum.org/PhotoJEFFforbesii.htm |
| Images and data |
http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/tecatecypress.html |
| Images and data |
http://www.conifers.org/cu/cup/forbesii.htm |
| Images and data |
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?where-genre=Plant&where-taxon=Cupressus+forbesii |
| Video |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmGElqigKGE |
| Data |
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233500458 |
| Data |
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?157,160,166 |
| Distribution |
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CUFO2 |
| Nursery, images, and data |
http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/227.htm |
| Note: |
High pollinator and high fuel value = fire
hazard |
