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Henderson, Mary S. and Mary Hall

Taxodium distichum (L.) L.C. Rich.

Bald cypress, Common bald cypress, Southern bald-cypress

Cupressaceae (Cypress Family)

USDA Symbol: TADI2

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

This lofty, deciduous conifer grows 50-75 ft. or taller. It is slender and conical in youth, becoming flat-topped in very old age. Sage-green, bipinnately compound leaves, which look more like feathers than needles, turn copper before falling. A tapering trunk is slightly buttressed at the swollen base. Knees develop mostly in poorly drained sitations. Exfoliating bark is red-brown to silver. Large, needle-leaf, aquatic, deciduous tree often with cone-shaped knees projecting from submerged roots, with trunks enlarged at base and spreading into ridges or buttresses, and with a crown of widely spreading branches, flattened at top.

Called the wood eternal because of the heartwoods resistance to decay, Bald Cypress is used for heavy construction, including docks, warehouses, boats, bridges, as well as general millwork and interior trim. The trees are planted as ornamentals northward in colder climates and in drier soils. Easily seen in Big Cypress National Preserve near Naples, Florida. Pond Cypress (var. nutans(Ait.) Sweet), a variety with shorter scalelike leaves, is found in shallow ponds and poorly drained areas from southeastern Virginia to southeastern Louisiana below 100 (30 m).

 

From the Image Gallery

View herbarium specimen from Harry T. Cliffe Bexar Regional Herbarium.

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Size Class: 36-72 ft.
Fruit Type: Cone
Size Notes: 50-75 feet tall.
Leaf Color: Green
Autumn Foliage: yes
Fruit Color: Brown

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Purple
Bloom Time: Apr

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , FL , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MD , MS , MO , NJ , NY , NC , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA
Native Distribution: DE to FL, w. to s. IL, s.e. OK & e. TX
Native Habitat: Swamps; stream banks, Along streams and riparian areas in moist soils. Sand, loam, clay, limestone; poor drainage is fine.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
CaCO3 Tolerance: None
Cold Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Wet, acidic mucks, sands & loams. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay.
Conditions Comments: Bald cypress is a majestic tree with soft, ferny foliage that enhances many landscapes. Enjoy the terra cotta hue of the foliage around Thanksgiving. Adapted to riverine habitats, the roots are not susceptible to suffocation making bald cypress a common candidate for parking lots. Deciduous conifer adaptable to wet or semi dry conditions. Does well in full sun. Bald refers to the deciduous nature uncommon among other conifers.
Texas comments: Bald cypress is a majestic tree with soft, ferny foliage that enhances many landscapes. It is adapted to riverine habitats. The roots are not susceptible to suffocation making bald cypress a common candidate for parking lots. Bald refers to the deciduous nature uncommon among other conifers.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Fall conspicuous, Long-living, Attractive
Use Wildlife: Cover, Nesting site, Substrate-insectivorous birds, Seeds-granivorous birds, Seeds-Small mammals
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds
Deer Resistant: Moderate

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Taxodium distichum is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Baldcypress sphinx
(Isoparce cupressi)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Description: Cones and seeds prone to staining.
Commercially Avail: yes
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PlantWise: Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants

Taxodium distichum (Bald cypress) is a PlantWise native alternative for:

   Casuarina equisetifolia (beach sheoak)
   Firmiana simplex (Chinese parasoltree)
   Salix ?sepulcralis (weeping willow)

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Question: Wrong taxonomy for bald cypress tree family in your plant database?
click here to view the full question and answer

Question: I live in Ponder, Tx. We have some acreage and horses and wish to plant trees to afford some shade for the horses. Can you tell me what trees are toxic to horses.
click here to view the full question and answer

Question: I have an area in my front yard that has a drainage ditch running through it. When it rains, that area stays very wet. What kind of plants available for sale will work in this situation?
click here to view the full question and answer

From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

LAMTREE FARM - Warrensville, NC
Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Native Plant Nursery - Sanibel, FL

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Pineywoods Native Plant Center - Nacogdoches, TX
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
Native Plant Society of Texas - Fredericksburg, TX
Crosby Arboretum - Picayune, MS
Nueces River Authority - Uvalde, TX
* Available Online from Wildflower Center Store

Bibliography

Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Gardening with Native Plants of the South (1994) Wasowski and Wasowski
Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.
Native & Naturalized Woody Plants of Austin & the Hill Country (1981) Lynch, D.
* Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.
* Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
Trees of Central Texas (1984) Vines, Robert A.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Taxodium distichum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Taxodium distichum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Taxodium distichum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-02-18
Research By: LAL

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