Nootka Cypress is a needled evergreen tree in the cypress family native to the Pacific coast from Alaska to northern California. In its native habitat, it is commonly found growing along streams and ravines and other areas with moist soils. The species' name derives from the geographic area it is found in the Nootka Sound of British Columbia. It typically grows slowly to 30 to 45 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide. In the wild, it can grow rapidly, adding one or more feet of growth per year. Specimens up to 90 feet tall have been observed. Grow in average moist soils with good drainage in full sun to partial shade. Spring is the best season for shaping and encouraging new growth while fall is the best time for removing damaged branches and other general maintenance. It has graceful pendulous branches that upsweep at the ends and flattened sprays of gray-green or blue-green foliage. The underside of the leaves has no white markings and when bruised or rubbed together produces a foul odor. It is grown as a specimen tree or along pond and stream edges in the mountainous areas of NC. It May not be easy to find a supplier of this tree. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Although generally pest free, susceptible to beetle borers and spider mites, phytophthora, root rot, and rust. It cannot tolerate maritime exposure or atmospheric pollution.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12-24 feet
NC region
Mountains
Mature size
Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 120 ft. 0 in. | Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Columnar; Erect; Pyramidal; Weeping
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Blue; Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Needles; Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
< 1 inch long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The scale-like leaves are described as being opposite, or sub-opposite, tightly appressed and in 4 rows.
Flower detail
No true flowers, pollen bearing cones.
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
No true fruits - female seed-bearing cones are green when immature turning to brown. Ripen in two years.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Green; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
Reddish/brown exfoliating bark.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Interesting reddish/brown stems.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Alaska to British Columbia and Washington, Cascades to Oregon
Distribution
Alaska and northern California
Play value
Easy to Grow; Screening; Textural; Wildlife Nesting
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Uses (ethnobotany)
The wood is used for cabinet making, boats, and cor carvings. Fibers that finely shredded from the inner bark is used for making mats and blankets. Wood from this tree is hard and durable and has a resinous odor.