Widdringtonia nodiflora aka Bergcypress

Widdringtonia nodiflora is an evergreen conifer in the cypress family, Cupressaceae. Common names include mountain cedar, mountain cypress and berg cypress. Its native range runs from Mount Mulanje in Malawi to South Africa. It grows in southern and southeastern Africa's mountains. Plants occur in wet fynbos, rocky summit sites and mountain grassland. They also grow near streams and in canyon woods.

It forms a shrub or small tree, often with several stems. Most plants reach about 20 feet [6 metres] tall. Much larger trees occur in remote parts of eastern Zimbabwe. Young plants have a narrow, cone-shaped crown. The bark is grey to brown, with fine cracks and flaking patches. Young leaves spread from the stems and look like needles. Adult leaves are dark green, small and scale-like. They lie close against the branches.

Each tree bears both pollen cones and seed cones. The small pollen cones grow at the ends of shoots. The woody seed cones turn dark brown. They measure about 0.07 feet [0.02 metres] across. Wind carries the pollen between cones. Trees can hold their seeds for a long time. Fire can kill a tree and trigger seed release. Those seeds can sprout fast and help restore the stand. Surviving plants can also send up new shoots after fire.

Grow this species in full sun. Oregon State lists it as hardy to USDA Zone 9. Its wild sites have poor, acid soils derived from several rock types. These include granite, quartzite and sandstone. Its range spans winter-rain climates and regions with summer rain. Though many wild sites are cool and wet, established plants withstand drought well. Fire risk is a key limit when choosing a garden site. The trees burn readily, so avoid sites near homes in fire-prone areas.

People harvest wild trees for their light, durable wood. Its smooth sheen suits furniture and indoor finish work. The wood also makes strong roof shingles that age to silver-grey. Few large trees now remain south of the Zambezi River. Yet the species remains widespread across southern Africa. Useful Tropical Plants reports a Least Concern assessment from 2011. That source lists no known food or medicinal uses. It also reports no known hazards, but this does not establish safety for people or pets.