Bald Cypress
An extremely long living, fast growing, stately tree.
The Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) looks like an evergreen, but is actually deciduous so it drops its foliage in the fall, hence the name “bald”.
It is a lofty, deciduous conifer with a slender, pyramidal habit. Its mature height is 50-75 feet and it grows a rapid 2.5 feet a year.
The Bald Cypress is best known for growing in wet areas but it is easily adaptable to dry areas and city conditions.
It is an exceptionally long living tree. The oldest known Bald Cypress is over 1,600 years old and is located in North Carolina. It’s a wonderful choice if you want a tree that will be around for generations to come.
The needle-like leaves are a radiant green in the spring and summer. The foliage is almost fern-like giving the tree a graceful appearance.
In the fall your Bald Cypress will turn a beautiful cinnamon-red color. Its gently swaying foliage is sure to be an attention getter.
Finally, in the winter the interest is found in the bark. The Bald Cypress has a copper-brown bark that peels off in long strips, yet another distinctive and unique characteristic of this wonderful tree.
* Fast Growing
* Long life expectancy
* Low maintenance
Plant Facts
| Family | Taxodium distichum |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Green |
| Mature Height | 50 - 75 feet |
| Mature Spread | 20 - 30 feet |
| Soil | Sandy, Clay, Loam |
| Zones | 4-10 |
| Moisture | Widely Adaptable |
| Mature Form | Pyramidal |
| Growth Rate | Rapid |
| Sun Exposure | Full Sun - Partial Sun |
| Flower Color | Not Showy |
| Fall Color | Orange to Brown |
Quick Overview
The Bald Cypress, Taxodium distichum, is a lofty, deciduous conifer of slender, pyramidal habit. A stately tree, for parks, yards. Landscapers and land owners use this tree in wet areas. Bald Cypress trees have moderate water requirements. In swamps, it develops large flares at the base of the trunk, the so-called "cypress knees".
In the fall, the Bald Cypress leaves may turn a rich brown. The needle like leaves are dark green in the spring and summer. The "cypress knees" only develop when grown in or near water for most of the year. This species is very adaptable to wet and dry sites and thrives in many soil types.
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