Orange County’s Endangered Tecate Cypress & Roger’s Gardens Assistance
From The Journals of Ron Vanderhoff
In the rugged landscape of Southern California, where the jagged peaks of the Santa Ana Mountains stretch towards the sky, a quiet marvel stands among the rugged terrain—the Tecate Cypress. These ancient trees, named for the Tecate region of Baja California, the only other place where they grow, tell a captivating story about the environment and open spaces of Orange County.
Photo: Ron Vanderhoff
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For most locals and visitors, the Tecate Cypress remains a hidden gem. The trees' slender, spire-like forms, adorned with delicate, scale-like leaves, rise like sentinels against the backdrop of the sun-drenched hills. Their presence is profound and rare, offering a stark contrast to the more verdant flora of the region.
Santa Ana Mountains and in similar mountains at the U.S./Mexico border.
Photo: Ron Vanderhoff
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The story of the Tecate Cypress in Orange County begins long before human occupation. Long before settlers or tourists wandered the trails, the Tecate Cypress was a part of the landscape’s natural orchestra. As the ice ages retreated and the climate shifted, these trees adapted to the increasingly arid conditions. They found refuge in the rocky outcrops and steep canyons where few other trees could thrive. Here, they developed a unique resilience, their roots burrowing deep into the rocky soil to access hidden moisture.
In the early 1900s, when the Santa Ana Mountains became a focus of suburban expansion, the Tecate Cypress faced new challenges. Development encroached on their habitat, threatening the delicate balance of the ecosystem. Local conservationists and naturalists, recognizing the significance of these trees, began efforts to protect and preserve their natural habitat. One such figure was Daniel Hart, a passionate botanist who had spent years studying the flora of Southern California.
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and only open after being sup-heated following a fire.
Photo: Ron Vanderhoff
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Daniel’s love for the Tecate Cypress was almost mystical. He would speak of their elegance with a reverence that bordered on poetry. According to him, each tree was a living monument to resilience. He often told tales of their “silent conversations,” a poetic way of describing how the trees seemed to whisper through the rustling of their foliage, sharing secrets of ancient times with those who took the time to listen.
In recent decades, the Tecate Cypress has faced new threats, especially from the new frequency of wildfire intervals burning through the forest and the Tecate colonies. Tecate Cypress are well adapted to the historical wildfire regimes, having evolved with fire for millennium. However, with modern climate change, and new ignition sources, like sparking from vehicles, power lines, cigarettes, equipment, and other sources, the interval between these fires has shortened from about 70 or 80 years to, in some cases, as few as 10 years. It takes a Tecate Cypress around 20 to 25 years on average to matures and begin producing new cones and seed. A wildfire, followed by another in less than this interval can decimate entire populations of these rare trees.
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Approximately twenty years ago Ron Vanderhoff, Vice President at Roger’s Gardens, began visiting and documenting the wild Tecate’s in Orange County’s Santa Ana Mountains. With scientific permits in hand, he has been plotting their locations and assessing their fire recovery, and that of other rare native plant species, ever since. Ron is a well-known botanist in Southern California and the head of Plant Science for Orange County’s Chapter of the California Native Plant Society.
As a wildlands botanist and strong advocate for open space and habitat conservation, Ron coordinated Roger’s Gardens and innovative support effort for local Tecate Cypress restoration and protection.
Working with The U.S. Forest Service, California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Orange County Parks and The Irvine Ranch Conservancy, Ron coordinated the growing of potted Tecate Cypress trees specifically for the 2024 holiday Christmas Tree season. Tecate Cypress trees were propagated and grown offsite for approximately two years and lightly sheared to give them a natural “Christmas Tree” appearance. Each tree will bear special labelling and information about the plight of Tecate Cypress in our Northern Santa Ana Mountains. To further support conservation, Roger’s Gardens is donating five dollars to The Irvine Ranch Conservancy from every Tecate plant sold.
and easy garden culture make them excellent choices for screens and borders.
Photo: Ron Vanderhoff
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Ron has been advocating for our native plants and for nature-appropriate gardens in Orange County for forty years. When asked about the Tecate Cypress and Roger’s Gardens involvement, Ron said “Connecting people with nature is a core part of the Mission of Roger’s Gardens. Connecting a few of our customers to the plight of Tecate Cypress and other restoration and conservation needs here in Southern California is an important role that we take seriously.
Ron understands that gardeners are often a step ahead when it comes to appreciating and conserving nature. He continued, “If we can bring an endangered local tree into another customer’s life, and use that tree to help connect their family to the natural world, it is a step in the right direction. I would love for the Tecate Cypress become a popular Orange County living Christmas tree, and an alternative to other less sustainable options.”
Through these efforts, the Tecate Cypress will remain a symbol of resilience and rarity, finding new hope and relevance in the heart of Orange County.
But the frequency between fires has become so short that the future of the species is now at risk.
Photo: Ron Vanderhoff
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