Baldcypress for Tough Sites

by | Jun 2, 2015 | Flooding, Installation, Native plants, Trees

Bald cypress growing at the edge of a pond. Photo: Julie McConnell, UF/IFAS

Bald cypress growing at the edge of a pond. Photo: Julie McConnell, UF/IFAS

Considering planting a tree in your landscape, but not sure what will do well?

Baldcypress, Taxodium distichum, is one tree you should consider for your Florida landscape. This deciduous conifer is native to North America and is suited to a wide variety of situations, even difficult ones!

Baldcypress is found naturally along stream banks and in swampy areas, but also performs well in dry situations once established. Not many trees can tolerate standing water or flooding situations, but baldcypress is well adapted to these tough spots. In areas that flood or remain wet the tree will form “knees” that project out of the ground and add a beautiful feature – just don’t plan to mow in areas where these develop. Not restricted to wet areas, baldcypress also performs well as a street tree or in limited root zone situations such as parking lot islands.

This tough tree has a soft, delicate leaf texture and interesting globular cones that start out green then turn brown as they mature. The foliage is light green through the spring and summer then turns a coppery gold before the needles fall in the winter. The trunk has a reddish color that is also attractive and will grow branches low to the ground, but can easily be maintained with a clear trunk in a street tree form.

Baldcypress will grow in full sun to part shade and is adapted to all soil types except highly alkaline (over 7.5 pH). Sand, loam, clay, or muck can all sustain this native tree. Few pests bother baldcypress, but it can be affected by bagworms and mites. Mature size can be in excess of 100 feet, but trees typically grow 60-80 feet tall in Florida.

For more information:

Taxodium distichum: Baldcypress

 

  • Baldcypress growing at the edge of a pond. Photo: Julie McConnell, UF/IFAS

  • Baldcypress knees formed where tree is growing in wet area. Photo: Julie McConnell, UF/IFAS

  • Baldcypress cones. Photo: Julie McConnell, UF/IFAS

  • Baldcypress. Photo: Julie McConnell, UF/IFAS

  • Baldcypress trunk. Photo: Julie McConnell, UF/IFAS

  • Baldcypress foliage. Photo: Julie McConnell, UF/IFAS

Julie McConnell
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