Family · Gymnosperms

Cupressaceae

Cypress, juniper, redwood, sequoia

Scale- or awl-leaved conifers spanning junipers, cypresses and the giant redwoods, among the tallest and oldest living trees.

Accepted species: 179accepted names · Kew WCVP
Genera: 30accepted genera · Kew WCVP
Origin: ≈50 MaPaleogene · crown age, Jin & Qian 2022 megatree
Centre of diversity: Asia-Temperatemost native species · WGSRPD

Open Cupressaceae in the treePan, zoom and dig into its genera in the interactive view.

Plants you might know

Cupressus (cypress)
Juniperus (juniper)
Sequoia (redwood)
Taxodium (bald cypress)

Genera

Juniperus77 spp.
Callitris20 spp.
Cupressus17 spp.
Hesperocyparis17 spp.
Chamaecyparis5 spp.
Libocedrus5 spp.
Thuja5 spp.
Calocedrus4 spp.
Widdringtonia4 spp.
Athrotaxis3 spp.
Cunninghamia2 spp.
Xanthocyparis2 spp.
Austrocedrus1 spp.
Callitropsis1 spp.
Cryptomeria1 spp.
Diselma1 spp.
Fitzroya1 spp.
Fokienia1 spp.
Glyptostrobus1 spp.
Metasequoia1 spp.
Microbiota1 spp.
Papuacedrus1 spp.
Pilgerodendron1 spp.
Platycladus1 spp.
Sequoia1 spp.
Sequoiadendron1 spp.
Taiwania1 spp.
Taxodium1 spp.
Tetraclinis1 spp.
Thujopsis1 spp.

Where it grows

Asia-Temperate65
Northern America55
Australasia23
Asia-Tropical22
Europe18
Africa18
Southern America13
Pacific6

Native species richness by botanical continent (WGSRPD level 1), from Kew WCVP.

Related families

Cupressaceae sits in the order Cupressales.