Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) – 3-4′ * Spring Only *

Description

Latin: Taxodium distichum
Zones: USDA 4–9
Other Common Names: Swamp Cypress, Southern Cypress
Mature Height: 50–70 ft tall (occasionally over 100 ft), 20–30 ft spread
Soil/Climate: Prefers moist to wet, acidic soils; thrives in full sun; highly tolerant of flooding and seasonal inundation; adaptable to drier soils once established
Notes: Deciduous conifer with feathery, bright green foliage turning copper-orange in fall; develops fluted, buttressed trunks in wet areas and produces distinctive root “knees” in flooded conditions. Fibrous, reddish-brown bark peels in narrow strips.
Wildlife: Provides nesting sites for herons, ospreys, and other birds; roots and knees shelter fish and aquatic invertebrates; seeds eaten by ducks, squirrels, and other wildlife.