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Home > Cypress > Bald Cypress

Bald Cypress

Bald cypress, also known as swamp cypress, or southern-cypress is a large-sized coniferous tree found in the Gulf Coastal Plains and the Southeastern United States. It has a pyramid-shaped crown when young, turning columnar at maturity. Trees growing in swampy conditions are known for their pneumatophores, commonly called “cypress knees,” which are special types of aerial roots used for transporting oxygen to the underground root system.

Bald Cypress Tree

Bald Cypress Tree

Bald Cypress

Bald Cypress

Scientific Classification

KingdomPlantae
DivisionPinophyta
ClassPinopsida
OrderPinales
FamilyCupressaceae
GenusTaxodium
Scientific NameTaxodium distichum
Bald Cypress Pictures

Bald Cypress Pictures

Dwarf Bald Cypress

Dwarf Bald Cypress

Quick Information

Other NamesBaldcypress, Yellow-cypress, Red-cypress, Gulf-cypress, Tidewater red cypress, White-cypress
Size100-120 ft (30-35 m) tall; 3-6 ft (1-2 m)
Identification

Leaves (Needles): Linear and alternate; flat blades appear on spirally arranged twigs, twisted or curled at the base; 1-2 cm long, 1-2 mm wide

Cones: Green when young, gray-brown when matured, 13-36 mm in diameter, globular; 9-15 four-sided scales; two triangle-shaped seeds on each scale

Bark: Thin, fibrous; red-brown/gray-brown; pattern of narrow ridges and furrows

Tree TypeDeciduous
Distribution/RangeFrom Delaware to Florida along the Atlantic coasts; lower Gulf Coastal Plains to Southeast Texas; north Mississippi valley, southeastern Oklahoma, Missouri, southwestern Indiana, southern Illinois
Hardiness Zones4-10
Growth RateSlow to medium; annual height increase is 13-24 in
LifespanApproximately 600 years
Growing Conditions

Winter Conditions: Can withstand cold; minimum winter temperatures can range between -29°C and -34°C

Summer Conditions: Thrives in places with hot summers

Rain: Annual precipitation from 1120-1630 mm

Sunlight: Full sun, endures partial shading

Soil Requirements: Moist, acidic, loamy, clayey, well-drained; can withstand both dry and wet conditions

Diseases and PestsBrown pocket rot caused by the fungus Stereum taxodi; insects such as fruit tree leafroller, cypress flea beetle, cypress looper, bagworm, southern-cypress bark beetle, and baldcypress coneworm cause minor damage
Flowering/FruitingMale and female cones mature in a single growing season; the catkins become conspicuous in the winter; pollens are shed during March-April
Breeding SystemMonoecious
Seed ProductionProduced every year; cone scales with resin-coated seeds drop to the ground or water at maturity
Seedling DevelopmentSoil saturated for 1-3 months after seed dissemination is ideal for germination; prolonged submergence of a seedling in water kills it
Wildlife ValueWild turkeys, wood ducks, evening grosbeaks, squirrels, and waterfowl feed on seeds; Ospreys and bald eagles nest in bald cypress trees
Varieties/Cultivars
  • Taxodium distichum ‘Cascade Falls’ (Weeping form)
  • Taxodium distichum ‘Mickelson’ (trade name: Shawnee Brave)
  • Taxodium distichum ‘Peve Minaret’ (Dwarf form)
UsesAs an ornamental tree and bonsai; Pecky cypress for decorative paneling; lumber used in building furniture, construction, flooring, greenhouses, garden boxes, cabinetry, rafters, river pilings, planking in boats, etc.
IUCN Conservation StatusLeast Concern
Bald Cypress Knees

Bald Cypress Knees

Bald Cypress Trees

Bald Cypress Trees

Pond Cypress vs. Bald Cypress

Although closely related to bald cypress, the pond cypress (Taxodium ascendens) is found in blackwater habitats, bearing short leaves on erect shoots. It prefers more acidic soils than bald cypress and rarely grows on sites, which receive nutrients from floodwaters.

Bald Cypress Bonsai

Bald Cypress Bonsai

Bald Cypress Leaf

Bald Cypress Leaf

Interesting Facts

  • The bald cypress is Louisiana’s official state tree.
  • The oldest known bald cypress, found in Bladen County in North Carolina, is more than 1,600 years old.
Weeping Bald Cypress

Weeping Bald Cypress

Swamp Cypress

Swamp Cypress

Shawnee Brave Bald Cypress

Shawnee Brave Bald Cypress

Bald Cypress Cones

Bald Cypress Cones

References

  1. https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/treedetail.cfm?itemID=787
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxodium_distichum
  3. https://www.fs.usda.gov/nrs/atlas/tree/v3/221
  4. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=m510
  5. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/42261/2967873

Published on September 22nd 2016 by admin under Cypress.
Article was last reviewed on 5th December 2024.

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