The classic sight of the Bald Cypress Tree in Southern waterways is more versatile than you might think!

Native to swampy areas, you can find this Cypress along slow-moving creeks, streams, and rivers. A key feature of these Bald Cypress trees is their “knees”. These are knobby segments of the bald cypress root system which protrude above the water to provide oxygen and stability to the tree in these wet conditions.

These trees grow naturally across the southern United States and have been seen in the drainage basin of the Mississippi Valley, along with and Gulf coast, and coastal plains.

Bald Cypress leaves have soft, feather-like foliage that is bright green and their shaggy bark is a greyish brown. A deciduous conifer, this tree’s foliage will become cinnamon and fiery reddish-brown in the fall and eventually shed. Thus giving these trees their bald name. You’ll also find that they produce bald cypress fruit that is a small wrinkled ball looking “fruit” on the tree. This fruit is actually bald cypress tree nuts.

Although they are extremely long-lived (commonly 600 years) and tower around 120 feet tall at full maturity, these trees are very slow-growing. The Bald Cypress Trees have a pyramid shape in their youth and because of this slow-growing nature, they thrive in this stage for many, many years. The bald cypress growth rate is up to 1-2 feet per year.

BALD CYPRESS CARE

The Bald Cypress is also able to tolerate dry, full sun weather, however, and can be ornamental in a variety of landscapes. The needle-like leaves stay green in summer until it produces fall color for everyone to see! The needles are arranged in flat and alternate directions.

The bald cypress knees protrude around the trunk diameter if planted in wet soils or where soil moisture is high. Gives the reminder of cypress groves in many southern waterways where they natively live.

Bald Cypress Zones

Bald cypress taxodium distichum tree grows best across the southeastern United States in USDA plant hardiness zones 4-10. It has been named the state tree of Louisiana. The South has been named the true home of bald cypress. In the swamps of North Carolina, you can find forests of them that are over 1000 years old.

Water thoroughly the first year of planting to establish a strong root system. These trees are not shipped bare root.

Buy the Bald Cypress trees for sale. It is an excellent shade tree! For more trees to plant this year visit our Top 3 Trees to Plant for Earth Day Blog.