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Taxodium distichum (Linnaeus) L.C. Richard. Common name: Bald-cypress. Phenology: Mar-Apr; Oct. Habitat: Brownwater and blackwater swamps, usually in riverine situations, depressions in bottomland forests, lake margins, river banks, rarely in wooded seeps. Distribution: DE and e. MD south to s. FL and west to e. TX and se. OK, north along the Mississippi River and its tributaries to s. IN and s. IL. This species is sometimes planted as an ornamental in upland and wetland sites within and beyond its natural range, and these planted trees are very long persistent and may be encountered.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Other Comments: A remarkable population of Taxodium distichum is found along a stretch of the Black River in NC, with many trees exceeding 1500 years old, and the oldest discovered as of 2022 is aged at more than 2600 years old.

Synonymy ⓘ: = AqW, Fl1, G, Il, K4, Mi, NS, Pa, RAB, S, S13, SFla, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, WH3, WV, Godfrey (1988); Cupressus disticha L. = Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich. var. distichum — Ar, C, ETx1, Mo1, NY, POWO, Adams et al (2012), Lickey & Walker (2002); < Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich. — F; < Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich. var. distichum — FNA2. Basionym: Cupressus disticha L. 1753

Links to other floras: < Taxodium distichum var. distichum - FNA2

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL
  • Great Plains: OBL
  • Midwest: OBL
  • Northcentral & Northeast: OBL

Heliophily ⓘ: 6

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image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Taxodium distichum, Knee, and Salvinia minima, Otter Lake, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, Wakulla County, Florida 2 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Taxodium distichum, Old Growth, Wekiva River, Levy County, Florida 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Taxodium distichum, Cypress Pond, Turner County, Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Taxodium distichum, cones, Riverbend Wildlife Management Area, waterfowl impoundments, Laurens County, Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Taxodium distichum, Giant Old Growth Tree No. 2, Altamaha River Floodplain, Long County, Georgia, Steve Bowling 1 by Alan Cressler source
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Taxodium distichum, Giant Old Growth Tree No. 1, Altamaha River Floodplain, Long County, Georgia, Alan Cressler 4 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Johnny Randall | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Taxodium distichum, Knees, Beacham Lake, Cross Slough, River Bend Wildlife Management Area, Lower Tract, Laurens County, Georgia 2 by Alan Cressler source
image of plant© J.W. Hardin | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Taxodium distichum, unopened male flowers, Riverbend Wildlife Management Area, cypress pond, Laurens County, Georgia 4 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Taxodium distichum, Giant Old Growth Tree No. 1, Altamaha River Floodplain, Long County, Georgia, Alan Cressler 3 by Alan Cressler source
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Taxodium distichum, unopened male flowers, Riverbend Wildlife Management Area, cypress pond, Laurens County, Georgia 2 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© J.W. Hardin | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Taxodium distichum (stunted), Gum Slough, Half Moon Wildlife Management Area, Sumter County, Florida 2 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Taxodium distichum, Inside Giant Old Growth Tree No. 2, Altamaha River Floodplain, Long County, Georgia, Steve Bowling 2 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Taxodium distichum, Knees, Santa Fe River, William Guy Lemmon Memorial Park, Suwannee County, Florida 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Taxodium distichum, Giant Old Growth Tree No. 1, Altamaha River Floodplain, Long County, Georgia, Steve Bowling 3 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Taxodium distichum, Slough, Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, Lee County, Florida 1 by Alan Cressler source
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Taxodium distichum, Giant Old Growth Tree No. 1, and Nyssa ogeche, Altamaha River Floodplain, Long County, Georgia, Alan Cressler 1 by Alan Cressler source
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Taxodium distichum, with Ficus aurea, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, National Audubon Society, Collier County, Florida 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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Height: 50-70 ft.

plant sale text: Bald cypress is one of a few species of deciduous conifers. In fall, its leaves turn a gorgeous russet or reddish-brown before they drop. Bald cypress has a somewhat columnar shape. Its bark takes on an attractive, fibrous appearance as the tree matures. It often grows in swamps and its roots often produce cypress "knees" when growing in moist soil or standing water. It is equally happy growing in average soil. This species is remarkably adaptable, performing well in home landscapes or as a street tree. It typically reaches a height of 50 to 70 ft. in 30 to 50 years.

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native range: eastern United States



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