Botanical Name
Taxodium distichum
Common Name
Baldcypress
Wetland Status
OBL
Baldcypress, the sentinel of the southern swamp, is a long-lived, pyramidal conifer (cone-bearing tree) which grows 50-70' tall (less frequently to 125'). Although it looks like a needled evergreen (same family as redwoods) in summer, it is deciduous ("bald" as the common name suggests). The reddish peeling bark and rusty fall color enliven any landscape. Easily grown in average, medium to wet, moisture retentive but reasonably well-drained soils in full sun. Prefers moist, acidic, sandy soils, but tolerates a wide range of soil conditions ranging from somewhat dry soils to wet soils in standing water.