Bald-cypress

Taxodium distichum

Common names:
bald-cypress, bald cypress, baldcypress, swamp cypress, white-cypress, tidewater red-cypress, gulf-cypress, red-cypress

Content Detail

This stately conifer, with a native range from the Southern U.S., extending up into the southern tip of Illinois, is often found in groupings in parks and larger spaces, along streets, and around lakes. Unlike most cone-bearing trees, bald-cypress loses its needles each winter and grows a new set in spring. The russet-red fall color of its lacy needles is one of its outstanding characteristics. Hardy and tough, this tree will adapt to a wide range of soil types, whether wet, dry, or swampy.

Family (English)Cypress
Family (botanic)Cupressaceae
Planting siteCity parkway, Residential and parks, Restricted sites, Wide median
Tree or plant typeTree
FoliageDeciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
Native localeIllinois, North America
Size rangeLarge tree (more than 40 feet)
Mature height50-70 feet
Mature width20-30 feet
Light exposureFull sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
Hardiness zonesZone 4, Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9, Zone 10, Zone 11
Soil preferenceAcid soil, Wet soil
Other tolerancesclay soil, Dry sites, Occasional flooding, Wet sites
Season of interestlate summer, early fall, mid fall
Flower color and fragranceInconspicuous
Shape or formPyramidal
Growth rateModerate
Transplants wellYes
WildlifeBirds, Small mammals, Water birds
Has cultivarsYes

Native geographic location and habitat:

Bald-cypress is native to the Southern United States, especially wetlands and coastal areas. It’s range does extend up into the southern tip of Illinois.

Bark color and texture :

The bark is fibrous with an attractive, reddish-brown color.

Leaf or needle arrangement, size, shape, and texture:

Soft, feathery needles turn russet-red in autumn before falling. This is one of the few conifers (cone-bearing trees) that loses its needles in winter and grows a new set in spring.

Flower arrangement, shape, and size:

The plant has its male and female flowers in separate structures on the same tree. They are inconspicuous.

Fruit, cone, nut, and seed descriptions:

The small round cones stay on the branches into the winter.

Plant care:

Bald-cypress is best grown in full sun in wet, dry, or swampy locations. Acidic soils are preferred as it may showchlorosis symptoms (yellowing) in high pH (alkaline) soil.

List of pests, diseases, and tolerances:

The bald-cypress is susceptible to twig blight,spider mite,gall forming mite, and cypress moths.

**Cascade Falls bald-cypress (Taxodium distichum ‘Cascade Falls’):**

This is a weeping form that reaches 8 to 20 feet high.

**Green Whisper® bald-cypress (Taxodium distichum ‘JFS-SGPN’):**

This cultivar has very bright green foliage. The tree has a very soft, feathery look.

**Peve Minaret bald-cypress (Taxodium distichum ‘Peve Minaret’):**

Thisis a dwarf cultivar, growing only 8 to 10 feet high and 3 to 4 feet wide.

**Shawnee Brave® bald-cypress (Taxodium distichum‘Mickelson’):**

This treeis narrowly pyramidal (50 feet high and 20 feet wide), making it a good choice for urban spaces.

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Spencer Campbell
Plant Clinic Manager
Sharon Yiesla
Plant Knowledge Specialist

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Content Detail

Native geographic location and habitat:

Bark color and texture :

Leaf or needle arrangement, size, shape, and texture:

Flower arrangement, shape, and size:

Fruit, cone, nut, and seed descriptions:

Plant care:

List of pests, diseases, and tolerances:

Cascade Falls bald-cypress (Taxodium distichum ‘Cascade Falls’):

Green Whisper® bald-cypress (Taxodium distichum ‘JFS-SGPN’):

Peve Minaret bald-cypress (Taxodium distichum ‘Peve Minaret’):

Shawnee Brave® bald-cypress (Taxodium distichum‘Mickelson’):

Spencer Campbell

Sharon Yiesla

Photo Gallery(5)

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Darkhn1 Bald-cypress (52-2009*2) is in the Alnus

Bald-cypress (720-59*2) is in the Spruce Hill

Bald-cypress (346-60*2) is in the Spruce Hill

Bald-cypress (720-59*1) is in the Spruce Hill

Bald-cypress (346-60*1) is in the Spruce Hill

Bald-cypress (262-2007*4) is in the Thornhill Drive

Bald-cypress (262-2007*2) is in the Thornhill Drive

Bald-cypress (262-2007*3) is in the Thornhill Drive

Bald-cypress (262-2007*5) is in the Thornhill Drive

Bald-cypress (262-2007*1) is in the Thornhill Drive

Bald-cypress (346-60*4) is in the Eastern U.S. Wetlands

Bald-cypress (346-60*6) is in the Eastern U.S. Wetlands

Bald-cypress (1167-2004*1) is in the Eastern U.S. Wetlands

Bald-cypress (346-60*3) is in the Eastern U.S. Wetlands

Bald-cypress (346-60*9) is in the Eastern U.S. Wetlands

Bald-cypress (346-60*7) is in the Eastern U.S. Wetlands

Bald-cypress (332-95*2) is in the Eastern U.S. Wetlands

Weeping Bald-cypress (794-56*1) is in the Eastern U.S. Wetlands

Bald-cypress (332-95*1) is in the Eastern U.S. Wetlands

Pond-cypress (259-95*3) is in the Eastern U.S. Wetlands

Bald-cypress (1500-25*3) is in the Eastern U.S. Wetlands

Bald-cypress (1500-25*4) is in the Eastern U.S. Wetlands

Bald-cypress (346-60*8) is in the Eastern U.S. Wetlands

Bald-cypress (346-60*5) is in the Eastern U.S. Wetlands

Pond-cypress (259-95*1) is in the Eastern U.S. Wetlands

Pond-cypress (259-95*6) is in the Eastern U.S. Wetlands

Bald-cypress (1167-2004*2) is in the Eastern U.S. Wetlands

Shawnee Brave Bald-cypress (197-75*1) is in the Eastern U.S. Wetlands

Bald-cypress (1500-25*1) is in the Eastern U.S. Wetlands

Bald-cypress (1500-25*2) is in the Eastern U.S. Wetlands

Bald-cypress (110-94*2) is in the Tollway Berm

Bald-cypress (110-94*1) is in the Tollway Berm

Secrest Bald-cypress (311-2006*1) is in the Conifer Garden

Bald-cypress (605-81*3) is in the Ozark

Bald-cypress (605-81*5) is in the Ozark

Bald-cypress (75-93*4) is in the Ozark

Bald-cypress (75-93*3) is in the Ozark

Bald-cypress (75-93*2) is in the Ozark

Bald-cypress (605-81*2) is in the Ozark

Bald-cypress (605-81*6) is in the Ozark

Bald-cypress (605-81*4) is in the Ozark

Bald-cypress (579-82*2) is in the Ozark

Bald-cypress (579-82*3) is in the Ozark

Bald-cypress (605-81*1) is in the Ozark

Bald-cypress (605-81*7) is in the Ozark

Shawnee Brave Bald-cypress (40-97*1) is in the Hedge

Bald-cypress (80-69*1) is in the Bur Reed Marsh

Shawnee Brave Bald-cypress (837-2004*7) is in the Visitor Center

Shawnee Brave Bald-cypress (837-2004*4) is in the Visitor Center

Shawnee Brave Bald-cypress (837-2004*1) is in the Visitor Center

Bald-cypress (838-2004*12) is in the Visitor Center

Shawnee Brave Bald-cypress (837-2004*10) is in the Visitor Center

Bald-cypress (838-2004*11) is in the Visitor Center

Bald-cypress (838-2004*13) is in the Visitor Center

Shawnee Brave Bald-cypress (837-2004*8) is in the Visitor Center

**Cascade Falls bald-cypress (Taxodium distichum ‘Cascade Falls’):**

**Green Whisper® bald-cypress (Taxodium distichum ‘JFS-SGPN’):**

**Peve Minaret bald-cypress (Taxodium distichum ‘Peve Minaret’):**

**Shawnee Brave® bald-cypress (Taxodium distichum‘Mickelson’):**