Cypress Trees (along with Junipers and Arborvitae) are members of the cypress family. Many of them are commonly called "cedars," but they are not closely related to true cedar trees, which are members of the pine family.

This page focuses on the Cupressoidae subfamily of the cypress family, which includes junipers and arborvitae as well as evergreen cypresses. The Sequoioidae subfamily of the cypress family contains redwood trees. The Taxodioideae subfamily of the cypress family contains bald cypress Trees.

There is one cypress species native to Woodland and four species native to other parts of Yolo County. Only one of these is planted in Woodland by the city. Five other cypress species from farther away (plus additional non-native redwood trees and bald cypress trees) are planted around town by the City of Woodland.

Cypress Drive and Cedar Lane in southern Woodland, and Juniper Court in western Woodland, are all likely named for our local trees that belong to the cypress family.

Native to Woodland

Port Orford Cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), also called Lawson's Cypress, is an evergreen tree native to all of Woodland. Woodland is the only part of Yolo County that is well suited for it, but Port Orford Cedar also grows in patches in and north of Sacramento. It can grow over 200 feet tall and is highly valued for lumber but is severely threatened by an invasive fungus throughout its native range. It prefers partial shade. It has medium water needs, often growing along streams, and prefers good or medium drainage. It has blue-green foliage and bright red male cones. Male and female cones are borne on the same tree. Port Orford Cedar is ranked 8 out of 10 on the Ogren Plant Allergy Scale, indicating that it tends to cause fairly severe hay fever.

Native to Yolo County

A two-year-old Incense Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) in a garden in Woodland. It stands about two feet tall, about two years after sprouting from seed. Photo by queerbychoice.Incense Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) is a slow-growing evergreen tree native to the Yolo County foothills just west of Rumsey. It can grow as much as 150 feet tall and as much as 50 feet wide. It prefers full sun or partial shade. It has low water needs and prefers medium drainage. Male and female cones are borne on the same tree. Incense Cedar is ranked 7 out of 10 on the Ogren Plant Allergy Scale, indicating that it tends to cause fairly severe hay fever. It is planted at Freeman Park, Ralph Harris Park, and Woodside Park. It is also planted as a street tree on Depot Street and on Pendegast Street.

California Juniper (Juniperus californica), also called California White-Cedar, is a slow-growing evergreen large shrub or small tree native to the Yolo County foothills, including the Capay Hills. It usually grows 10 to 25 feet tall and up to 20 feet wide. It prefers full sun or partial shade. It has very low water needs and prefers good or medium drainage. California Junipers are usually either male or female, but some California Junipers bear both male and female cones. The female cones are blue and visually resemble berries. The male trees are ranked 10 out of 10 on the Ogren Plant Allergy Scale, indicating that they tend to cause very severe hay fever. The monoecious (androgynous) trees are ranked 9 out of 10. Female trees produce no pollen and are therefore a safe choice for hay fever sufferers. California Juniper typically releases its pollen from February through April, so if you suffer from hay fever during those months and you live near a male California Juniper, the juniper could be the culprit.

Western Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) is a slow-growing evergreen large shrub or small tree native to the Capay Hills and the Yolo County foothills from approximately Guinda northward. It usually grows 25 to 50 feet tall but is unlikely to exceed 25 feet in a human lifetime. Western Junipers are slightly more likely to be either male or female than a combination of both, but the combination is very common also. The female cones are blue and visually resemble berries. The male trees are ranked 10 out of 10 on the Ogren Plant Allergy Scale, indicating that they tend to cause very severe hay fever. The monoecious (androgynous) trees are ranked 9 out of 10. Female trees produce no pollen and are therefore a safe choice for hay fever sufferers. Western Juniper typically releases its pollen in May and June, so if you suffer from hay fever during those months and you live near a male Western Juniper, the juniper could be the culprit.

A young MacNab Cypress (Hesperocyparis macnabiana) in a garden in Woodland. Photo by queerbychoice.MacNab Cypress (Hesperocyparis macnabiana), also called Shasta Cypress, is a small evergreen tree native to the Yolo County foothills, not including the Capay Hills. It usually grows 10 to 40 feet tall and has pale gray-green foliage. It prefers full sun or partial shade. It has very low water needs and tolerates a wide variety of drainage conditions. Male and female cones are borne on the same tree. MacNab Cypress is ranked 10 out of 10 on the Ogren Plant Allergy Scale, indicating that it tends to cause very severe hay fever. Cypress pollen season lasts all year long except for December, so if you have nearly permanent hay fever, cypress trees could be the culprits.

Native to California

Arizona Cypress (Cupressus arizonica) is an evergreen tree native to patches of the Sacramento Valley near the Sutter Buttes, including in Yuba City, as well as to the southern Sierra Nevada and the desert southwest in general. It usually grows 30 to 80 feet tall. Its foliage tends to be pale blue-green or gray-green, helping it to absorb less heat than darker-colored plants. It prefers full sun or partial shade. It has very low water needs and prefers fast drainage. Male and female cones are borne on the same tree. Arizona Cypress is ranked 10 out of 10 on the Ogren Plant Allergy Scale, indicating that it tends to cause very severe hay fever. Cypress pollen season lasts all year long except for December, so if you have nearly permanent hay fever, cypress trees could be the culprits. Arizona Cypress is planted as a street tree on East Gum Avenue.

Western Red-Cedar (Thuja plicata), also called Giant Arborvitae, is an evergreen tree from the northern coast of California, in the area around Eureka. It can grow more than 200 feet tall but can tolerate being pruned as a 6-foot-tall hedge. It has high water needs and often grows in wetlands. It is valued for its lumber, which is often used for construction and roofing. Male and female cones are borne on the same tree. It is ranked 8 out of 10 on the Ogren Plant Allergy Scale, indicating that it tends to cause fairly severe hay fever. Western Red-Cedar is planted at Rick Gonzales, Sr., Park.

Nootka Cypress (Callitropsis nootkatensis) is an evergreen tree from the far northern coast of California, north of Eureka. It usually grows 60 to 80 feet tall. In 20 years, it might reach 25 feet tall. It prefers partial shade and is equally likely to grow in wetlands or in dry areas. Male and female cones are borne on the same tree. Nootka Cypress is ranked 8 out of 10 on the Ogren Plant Allergy Scale, indicating that it tends to cause fairly severe hay fever.

Monterey Cypress (Hesperocyparis macrocarpa) is an evergreen tree from the central coast of California, in the area around Monterey. It usually grows 60 to 80 feet tall and can live 200 years in its natural habitat. However, it is not well adapted to tolerate the heat or drought of the Sacramento Valley and rarely survives here for much more than a decade or two. It needs partial shade if grown here. Male and female cones are borne on the same tree. Monterey Cypress is ranked 10 out of 10 on the Ogren Plant Allergy Scale, indicating that it tends to cause very severe hay fever. Cypress pollen season lasts all year long except for December, so if you have nearly permanent hay fever, cypress trees could be the culprits. Monterey Cypress is planted as a street tree on East Gum Avenue.

Leyland Cypress (×Cupressocyparis leylandii) is a hybrid of Nootka Cypress (Callitropsis nootkatensis) and Monterey Cypress (Hesperocyparis macrocarpa). It is a fast-growing evergreen tree that usually grows 60 to 80 feet tall. In 15 years, it can grow nearly 50 feet tall. However, it is not well adapted to the heat or drought of Woodland and tends to be very short-lived when planted here. Male and female cones are borne on the same tree. Leyland Cypress is ranked 8 out of 10 on the Ogren Plant Allergy Scale, indicating that it tends to cause fairly severe hay fever. Cypress pollen season lasts all year long except for December, so if you have nearly permanent hay fever, cypress trees could be the culprits. Leyland Cypresses are planted as street trees on 2nd Street.

Non-Native

Smooth Arizona Cypress (Cupressus glabra) is an evergreen tree from the desert southwest. It usually grows 30 to 80 feet tall. Its foliage tends to be pale blue-green or gray-green, helping it to absorb less heat than darker-colored plants. It prefers full sun or partial shade. It has very low water needs and prefers fast drainage. Male and female cones are borne on the same tree. Smooth Arizona Cypress is ranked 10 out of 10 on the Ogren Plant Allergy Scale, indicating that it tends to cause very severe hay fever. Cypress pollen season lasts all year long except for December, so if you have nearly permanent hay fever, cypress trees could be the culprits. Smooth Arizona Cypress is planted as a street tree on East Gibson Road and Oak Avenue.

Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) is an evergreen tree from the Mediterranean region. It can grow to 115 feet tall. Male and female cones are borne on the same tree. Smooth Arizona Cypress is ranked 10 out of 10 on the Ogren Plant Allergy Scale, indicating that it tends to cause very severe hay fever. Cypress pollen season lasts all year long except for December, so if you have nearly permanent hay fever, cypress trees could be the culprits. Italian Cypress is planted in Woodland City Cemetery and as a street tree on Elm Street.

Creeping Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) at Jeff Roddy Memorial Park. Photo by queerbychoice.Creeping Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) is a prostrate shrub from northeastern and north-central North America, primarily from Canada. It can grow up to one foot tall and about 10 feet wide. Creeping Junipers are usually either male or female. The female cones are blue and visually resemble berries. The male shrubs are ranked 10 out of 10 on the Ogren Plant Allergy Scale, indicating that they tend to cause very severe hay fever. Female Creeping Juniper produces no pollen and is therefore a safe choice for hay fever sufferers. Creeping Juniper releases pollen from about February through June and also August through November, so if you have hay fever during all of those months, a male Creeping Juniper could be the culprit. Creeping Juniper is planted at Jeff Roddy Memorial Park.

Oriental Arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis) is an evergreen tree from Asia. It usually grows about 50 to 80 feet tall but occasionally reaches 90 feet tall. It can be sheared to form a dense hedge and is very drought tolerant. Male and female cones are borne on the same tree. Oriental Arborvitae is ranked 7 out of 10 on the Ogren Plant Allergy Scale, indicating that it tends to cause fairly severe hay fever. It is planted at John Ferns Park. It is also planted as a street tree on Elm Street.