Bald Cypress
Taxodium distichum
This ancient native conifer defies expectations by dropping its needles each fall after turning a beautiful russet-orange color. Extremely adaptable and long-lived, it thrives in both wet and dry conditions while developing distinctive fluted bark and impressive size, making it a unique choice for homeowners wanting something truly special.
Harvest
N/Ad
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
4–9
USDA hardiness
Height
50-70 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Bald Cypress in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 shade-tree →Zone Map
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Bald Cypress · Zones 4–9
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Wet. Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 24-60 feet, more than 60 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The cones on the bald cypress are round, wrinkled, 3/4 to 1-inch in diameter, and purplish green that matures to brown. The scales are thick and irregular. Each tree produces either male cones (pollen-bearing) or female cones (seed-bearing). The cones are pollinated by the wind in the spring. Displays in October.
Color: Brown/Copper, Green, Purple/Lavender. Length: 1-3 inches. Width: 1-3 inches.
Harvest time: Fall
Bloom time: Spring
History & Origin
Origin: Eastern North America from DE to FL, west to Texas and Mexico
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Deer, Erosion, Fire, Pollution, Salt, Storm damage, Wet Soil, Wind
- +Attracts: Small Mammals, Songbirds
- +Wildlife value: Wood ducks eat the seeds, as well as wild turkey, evening grosbeak, squirrels, waterfowl, and wading birds. Older trees form natural hollows and catamites that are used as cover by wildlife. Cyprus domes provide cover and breeding sites for frogs, toads, salamanders, and catfish. Spanish moss is often found hanging on the branches and provides food for Yellow-throated warblers.
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Wild Ginger
Thrives in moist, acidic soil conditions created by cypress; provides attractive groundcover
Louisiana Iris
Tolerates wet soil and seasonal flooding that cypress creates; adds spring color
Cardinal Flower
Enjoys the moist, partially shaded conditions under cypress canopy
Swamp Milkweed
Thrives in wet conditions and attracts beneficial pollinators to the area
Ferns
Flourish in the humid, shaded environment created by cypress; complement natural wetland aesthetic
Buttonbush
Shares similar water requirements and provides wildlife habitat in wetland settings
Pickerel Rush
Tolerates standing water around cypress roots; attracts beneficial insects
Spider Lily
Adapts well to seasonal flooding and moist soil conditions under cypress
Keep Apart
Boxwood
Requires well-drained soil and struggles in wet conditions created by cypress
Lavender
Cannot tolerate the consistently moist, poorly drained soil around cypress trees
Rosemary
Requires dry, well-drained conditions opposite to cypress's wet environment
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Excellent disease resistance
Common Pests
Cypress moths, bagworms, scale (rarely serious)
Diseases
Very disease resistant