Bald Cypress

Taxodium distichum

Baldcypress, Common Bald Cypress, Southern Bald Cypress, Deciduous Cypress, Southern Cypress, Swamp Cypress, Red Cypress, White Cypress, Yellow Cypress, Gulf Cypress, Tidewater Red Cypress

NPSOT, NTX, NLCP Level 3, Marie-Theres Herz; Herbarium Sheet

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map (hover for ecoregion names)

Native Habitat: Woodland, Wetland or Riparian

Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain

Maintenance

Adapted to riverine habitats. Needs deep soil or poor drainage conditions. Does not need pruning.

Comments

Majestic tree with ferny foliage that enhances many landscapes. Foliage dries up in dry, hot locations. Leaves turn terracotta hues in fall. Larval Host: Bald Cypress Sphinx.

Growth Form

Tree

Height

50 to

75 ft

Spread

20 to

45 ft

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Limestone, Poor Drainage

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Medium, High

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Bloom Color

Purple

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Fall Color, Seeds, Larval Host

Wildlife Benefit

Birds, Small Mammals, Moths

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Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym/s: Taxodium distichum var. nutans

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 48. 3) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 320. 4) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=TADI2. 5) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Taxodium+distichum&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 6) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=8242&locationType=County&mapType=Normal, 7) Native and Adapted Landscape Plants, City of Austin and Texas A&M, 2014, 8) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=18041#null

Native Plant Society of Texas