Bald cypress

Sun

Full sun; tolerates light shade but develops a better crown in an open position.

Water

Prefers consistently moist to wet ground and tolerates prolonged flooding once established. Established trees tolerate occasional dry spells, but young trees need regular watering.

Soil

Deep, acidic to neutral soil is best. Tolerates clay, poor drainage and standing fresh water; strongly alkaline soil can cause yellowing foliage.

Height

50-70 ft (15-21 m), sometimes considerably taller with age

Spread

20-30 ft (6-9 m), sometimes wider on old trees

Foliage

Soft, flat, yellow-green to mid-green needles arranged in two ranks along slender shoots. Foliage turns coppery orange to rusty brown in autumn, then falls with the small leafy branchlets.

Growth

Moderate to fast with ample moisture; slower in dry soil or cool summers.

Care needed

Low

• Cold hardy
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2.2 m)

2. After 1 year

   10 ft (3 m)

3. After 2 years

   12 ft (3.7 m)

4. After 3 years

   15 ft (4.5 m)

5. After 5 years

   20 ft (6.1 m)

About 20 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

the US

Growth rate

Moderate

• Choose a permanent site with room for a large crown and broad, flared trunk.
• Water deeply during dry weather for the first two or three growing seasons.
• Apply a 2-3 in (5-8 cm) mulch layer over the root area, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Feed only if growth is poor and a soil test identifies a nutrient shortage.
• Allow space for possible knees in wet ground; keep these areas away from mowing routes and paths.
• Stake only if the root ball moves in the wind, and remove supports after establishment.

Pruning. Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth, removing dead, damaged or crossing branches. Preserve the central leader and avoid topping or unnecessary removal of large limbs.

Autumn

Plant while the soil is workable, or wait until spring in very cold regions.

Late winter

Check the branch structure and remove dead or damaged growth before buds open.

Spring

Refresh mulch and check that ties or tree guards are not restricting the trunk.

Late spring

Check new foliage for persistent yellowing; test soil pH before applying fertiliser.

Summer

Water young trees deeply during dry spells, soaking the root area rather than sprinkling the surface.

Late autumn

Clear fallen branchlets from paths and drains; leave them as litter beneath the tree where practical.

• Plant beside a large pond or rain garden for reflected foliage, autumn colour and a sculptural trunk.
• Use as a specimen in a broad lawn, allowing for eventual shade and possible knees in damp ground.
• Plant loose groups in a large wet garden with sedges, rushes and moisture-loving perennials.
• Use its fine-textured foliage as a contrast to broad-leaved trees and shrubs in a spacious woodland garden.

Garden styles it suits: Bog garden, Woodland, Southern, Grand estate, Autumn colour and Architectural minimal.

Plant it with: Virginia sweetspire, Buttonbush, Royal fern, Swamp milkweed, Blue flag iris and Tussock sedge.

Wildlife: Seeds are eaten by squirrels and some birds, including waterfowl. Mature trees provide nesting and shelter, and trees growing in wetlands contribute valuable waterside habitat.

• Yellow foliage with greener veins can indicate iron chlorosis in alkaline soil. Test the soil; use an appropriate iron treatment for short-term relief, but favour a more suitable site where alkalinity is persistent.
• Drought can cause browning and early leaf drop, especially on young trees. Water deeply and mulch the root area.
• Bagworms can strip foliage in regions where they occur. Remove bags by hand on small trees in winter; seek locally appropriate treatment advice for larger infestations.
• Woody knees can obstruct mowing and become trip hazards in wet sites. Plan an unmown planting area around the tree rather than repeatedly cutting the knees.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. No part is recognised as a significant poisoning hazard, but needles, cones and wood are not food and may cause stomach upset if eaten.

• Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides)

  Also loses its feathery foliage in autumn, but its leaves and small branchlets occur in opposite pairs; bald cypress has alternate leaves and branchlets.

• Pond cypress (Taxodium ascendens)

  Usually has short, awl-shaped leaves held close to upright shoots rather than the flat, spreading, two-ranked foliage typical of bald cypress. It is sometimes classified as a variety of bald cypress.

• Montezuma cypress (Taxodium mucronatum)

  Often retains its foliage in mild climates and is less cold-hardy. It rarely develops the conspicuous knees associated with bald cypress, though young trees can be difficult to distinguish.

Taxodium means yew-like, distichum refers to the two-ranked leaves, and bald cypress describes its bare winter crown.

Propagation. Grow from seed collected from mature cones. Seeds usually benefit from about two to three months of cold, moist stratification before spring sowing; keep seedlings consistently moist but not submerged. Named cultivars are generally propagated by grafting.

Accepted botanical name

Taxodium distichum

In the US and Canada

Native in the lower 48 states.

Native range

Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Guatemala, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland and Mexico Central.

Measured

Soil pH 4.5 to 6. Average height 3220 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.