Gardening Guides
Central Plains Gardening
Great Design Plant: Bald Cypress
Enjoy this beautiful tree's feathery foilage, fall color and tolerance of wet and dry soils
Poorly drained landscapes and wet soil can haunt home gardeners. Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), native to southern U.S. swamps and traditionally harvested for lumber, can serve as the perfect ornamental solution, particularly those with too much of a wet thing.
“They have fantastic soft and feathery foliage, reddish-brown peeling bark and turn a great russet brown color in the fall,” says David Migdal from The Garden Consultants in Highland Park, Ill. “They are dramatic when used in mass or as a single specimen. Highly adaptable, they tolerate both extremely moist conditions as well as drought once established.” Need I say more?
“They have fantastic soft and feathery foliage, reddish-brown peeling bark and turn a great russet brown color in the fall,” says David Migdal from The Garden Consultants in Highland Park, Ill. “They are dramatic when used in mass or as a single specimen. Highly adaptable, they tolerate both extremely moist conditions as well as drought once established.” Need I say more?
Enjoy it. Fall is a perfect season not only to plant young trees, but also to enjoy the seasonal interest that bald cypress offers. The green feathery needles of the cypress transition to a warm, reddish brown in autumn before eventually dropping off in winter. Fibrous reddish silver bark, hidden by its foliage in summer, is revealed more prominently as the year finishes.
Bald cypress is an ideal specimen or shade tree for spaces lacking square footage. While it reaches towering heights, its trunk diameter remains thin. Whether clustered in a grove or lining an extended driveway, the drama of its buttressed trunk, weightless foliage, and dominating height make for a dynamic and unforgettable planting.
Photo by BotBln
Bald cypress is an ideal specimen or shade tree for spaces lacking square footage. While it reaches towering heights, its trunk diameter remains thin. Whether clustered in a grove or lining an extended driveway, the drama of its buttressed trunk, weightless foliage, and dominating height make for a dynamic and unforgettable planting.
Photo by BotBln
Before you plant. Don’t let the fact that you may not live in a wet area hinder you from incorporating bald cypress into your landscape. Bald cypress thrives in the warm humid summers of its native environment, but cool coastal summers will only slow its growth a bit. Once established the tree is pretty resilient, but can occasionally see attacks to its foliage and heartwood by pests. Keep the area surrounding the base of the tree free of decomposing debris and regularly prune to promote ample light and air circulation.
Common name: bald cypress
USDA zones: 4-9
Water requirement: Water regularly until established
Sun requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 50-130’ tall x up to 50' wide.
Growth rate: Grows quickly when young, slows with age
Tolerances: Wind, standing water, drought (once established)
Environmental benefits: Erosion control; wildlife nesting and source of food; water quality improvement