Genus Taxodium

Taxodium distichum Photo/Illustration: Courtesy of Bailey Nurseries

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The genus Taxodium includes three species of beautiful trees with finely cut leaves, interesting peeling bark, and nice autumn color. They are native to swamps, bogs, and river margins from the southeastern U.S. to Guatemala. Their form is upright and conical, and they are late to come into leaf. Grow as specimen trees in wet areas.
Noteworthy characteristics: Good fall color. Likes moist or wet soil. Produce aerial roots or "knees" at water level.
Care: Tolerant of most any soil that is moist to wet and preferably acidic, in full or partial shade.
Propagation: Sow seed in a cold frame in spring; graft cultivars in late winter.
Problems: Generally easy to grow, but leaf spot, bark beetle, and wood rot can occur.

Species, varieties and cultivars for genus Taxodium

Taxodium distichum and cvs.
(Bald cypress) (1 user review)

Hardiness Zones:

1

2

3

4

5

6

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8

9

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11

Its great beauty and variety of sizes and shapes makes this deciduous conifer a candidate for extensive use. Bald cypress is a tall, conical, almost columnar tree with pale brown, shallowly fissured bark. Its bright green needles become golden in the fall. The cultivar 'Monarch of Illinois' is shaped totally unlike the typical bald cypress, but shares its delicate foliage and warm-looking, ruddy bark. It has a large, rounded crown, like a maple. With an ultimate height of about 85 feet and spread to 65 feet, it is suited to large gardens. A smaller cultivar, 'Shawnee Brave', has a narrow, pyramidal growth habit, an ultimate height of 70 feet, and a span of up to 18 feet.

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