Torreya californica aka California Torreya

Torreya californica is an evergreen conifer native only to California. Its common names include California nutmeg and California nutmeg yew. It belongs to the yew family, Taxaceae. It grows in the Coast Ranges and Cascade–Sierra Nevada foothills. Wild trees occur beside streams, on sheltered slopes, and in moist canyons. Its range spans sea level to about 6,560 feet [2,000 metres].

Garden references give heights of about 49–65 feet [15–20 metres]. Much taller trees can reach 115 feet [35 metres]. Spread can reach about 26 feet [8 metres]. Young trees have a cone-shaped crown that rounds with age. Thin, gray-brown bark develops shallow cracks and scaly ridges. Slender branches spread outward, with some drooping at their tips. Young twigs start yellow-green, then turn reddish brown. Flat, stiff needles form two rows along the shoots. Each needle ends in a sharp point. The dark green foliage stays on the tree year-round. All parts give off a scent when crushed.

Male and female flowers grow on separate trees. Small, pale yellow male flowers sit near the leaf bases. Tiny female flowers grow on the current year's twigs. Wind carries the pollen, and flowering occurs in May. Seed production needs both male and female trees. The fleshy seed covering forms an aril, not a woody cone. It looks much like a large olive. The covering starts green and can turn purple when ripe. Inside sits a thick-walled, yellow-brown seed. Seeds take two years to mature and ripen from September to November.

This slow-growing tree suits woodland gardens and sheltered garden edges. It grows in sun or partial shade and tolerates woodland shade. Shelter from wind matters, as does moist soil or humid air. It accepts sandy, loamy, or clay soils across a broad pH range. Sources give USDA zone 7 and a wider range of 6–9. Reports differ on its hardiness in Britain. Some restrict it to mild areas; others report success near Edinburgh. It can grow well in cool, wet coastal climates.

The seeds provide edible oil and can be eaten raw or cooked. Roasting is another recorded use. Historical remedies used the nuts for several ailments, including indigestion. These reports do not establish medical benefit. Roots supplied strips for basket work, and wood served as fence posts. Plants For A Future lists no known hazards. The supplied sources give no specific pest or disease problems.