Cypress Taxodium distichum
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Cypress:
- Phonetic Spelling
- taks-OH-dee-um dye-STICK-um
- Description
-
Taxodium distichum, commonly called bald cypress, is a long-lived, pyramidal conifer (cone-bearing tree) which grows 100-120 feet tall. Old trees develop a wide, spreading base that narrows up the trunk with diameters as thick as 3-6'. It is one of the longest living trees in the world and its rings hold years of climate data. Although it looks like a needled evergreen (same family as redwoods) in summer, it is deciduous ("bald" as the common name suggests). It is native to southern swamps, bayous and rivers, primarily being found in coastal areas from Maryland to Texas and in the lower Mississippi River valley to as far north as the southeast corner of Missouri. In the deep South, it is a familiar sight growing directly in swampy water, often in large stands, with its branches heavily draped with Spanish moss. In cultivation, however, it grows very well in drier, upland soils.
The bald cypress is easily grown in average, medium to wet, moisture-retentive but reasonably well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. It prefers moist, acidic, sandy soils, but tolerates a wide range of soil conditions ranging from somewhat dry soils to wet soils in standing water. This species has been known to tolerate flooded conditions for extended periods of time. The bald cypress is a low maintenance tree with easy fall cleanup. It has a large taproot and is slightly salt tolerant.
The roots grow knobby, conical "knees" that rise up from the ground. The heavy, straight-grained, rot-resistant wood has been used for a variety of purposes including barrels, railroad ties, and shingles. The sapwood is cream-colored while the heartwood is brown.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Twig blight is an occasional disease pest. Chlorosis often occurs in alkaline soils.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Cascade Falls'
- 'Codys Feathers'
- 'Falling Waters'
- 'Imbricarium Prairie Sentinel'
- 'Jims Little Guy'
- 'Monarch of Illinsis'
- 'Nutans'
- 'Peve Minaret'
- 'Shawnee Brave'
- 'The Senator'
"Pond Cypress". Awl-like leaves close to the stem. Greyer bark. Grows in ponds. v. mexicana
Broadly spreading, branches slightly bowed, with long, arching shoots - 'Cascade Falls'
- 'Cascade Falls', 'Codys Feathers', 'Falling Waters', 'Imbricarium Prairie Sentinel', 'Jims Little Guy', 'Monarch of Illinsis', 'Nutans', 'Peve Minaret', 'Shawnee Brave', 'The Senator', v. imbricarium, v. mexicana
- Tags:
































- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Cascade Falls'
- 'Codys Feathers'
- 'Falling Waters'
- 'Imbricarium Prairie Sentinel'
- 'Jims Little Guy'
- 'Monarch of Illinsis'
- 'Nutans'
- 'Peve Minaret'
- 'Shawnee Brave'
- 'The Senator'
"Pond Cypress". Awl-like leaves close to the stem. Greyer bark. Grows in ponds. v. mexicana
Broadly spreading, branches slightly bowed, with long, arching shoots - 'Cascade Falls'
- 'Cascade Falls', 'Codys Feathers', 'Falling Waters', 'Imbricarium Prairie Sentinel', 'Jims Little Guy', 'Monarch of Illinsis', 'Nutans', 'Peve Minaret', 'Shawnee Brave', 'The Senator', v. imbricarium, v. mexicana
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Taxodium
- Species:
- distichum
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The wood is used for construction, flooring, cabinetry, and fences. It improves water quality while providing flood control in wet areas.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern U.S.A., NC, Mexico
- Distribution:
- Southeastern US
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Wood ducks eat the seeds, as well as wild turkey, evening grosbeak, squirrels, waterfowl, and wading birds. Older trees form natural hollows and catamites that are used as cover by wildlife. Cyprus domes provide cover and breeding sites for frogs, toads, salamanders, and catfish. Spanish moss is often found hanging on the branches and provides food for Yellow-throated warblers.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Resistant to fire, moderately resistant to damage by deer, slightly salt tolerant,
- Dimensions:
- Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Horizontal
- Open
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- No fruits, cones on the bald cypress are round, wrinkled, 1 inch in diameter, and purplish-green that matures to brown. The scales are thick and irregular. Displays in October.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Blooms from March to April.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Orange
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Acicular
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 1/4 to 3/4" long, flat needles in two ranks on each branchlet. It is soft, feathery, yellowish-green in the spring, sage green in summer, and orange/cinnamon-brown in the fall. Branchlets fall to the ground, leaves still attached, soon after.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
- Bark Description:
- The bark is dark red-brown to silver-brown with many thin, vertical ridges. Trunks are flared or fluted (buttressed) at the base. In water, they develop knobby root growths ("knees") which protrude above the water surface.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Grows a number of thick, heavy branches each with numerous small "branchlets" of leaves.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Pond
- Recreational Play Area
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Erosion
- Fire
- Pollution
- Salt
- Wet Soil