Plant · GBIF taxon 2683894
Xanthocyparis nootkatensis
Xanthocyparis nootkatensisAlso known as Alaska Cedar, Yellow Cedar, Alaska Yellow Cedar, Nootka Cedar
Nootka cypresses are slow-growing, long-lived conifers characterized by weeping foliage sprays and distinctive yellow-tinted, decay-resistant heartwood. Thriving in the wet subalpine forests and bogs of northwestern North America, some specimens reach ages exceeding 1,000 years. Climate change and diminishing winter snowpacks present growing challenges to their shallow, cold-sensitive root systems.
ConiferEvergreenPacific Northwest
Licensed referenceWalter Siegmund (talk) / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)
Predators
- Bark beetles
- Deer
- Porcupines
ThreatsDecreasing snowpack leading to root freezing, climate change, overharvesting
HabitatsSubalpine forests, coastal rainforests, mountain bogs, rocky slopes
Life span1,000–3,500 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderPinales
- FamilyCupressaceae
- GenusXanthocyparis
- SpeciesXanthocyparis nootkatensis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Identification: Look for weeping foliage sprays and small, round cones with sharp central points.
- Habitat Spotting: Seek out misty, damp subalpine slopes and bogs across the Pacific Northwest.
- Etiquette: Avoid soil compaction around old trees to protect their shallow root systems.
Frequent Companion (c) J Brew, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by J Brew · cc-by-sa
Frequent Companion (c) Aaron Liston, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Aaron Liston · cc-by
Close Relative (c) John Rusk, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Themodoccypress (J. Malone), some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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