{"slug":"taxodium-distichum","scientific_name":"Taxodium distichum","common_names":["Bald cypress","Baldcypress","Swamp cypress"],"family":"Cupressaceae","type":"conifer","mature_height_m":20,"mature_spread_m":10,"growth_rate":"medium","lifespan_years":null,"hardiness_zones":[4,9],"sun":"full_partial","water":"medium","soil":"Moist to wet, deep soils; tolerates flooding and poor drainage; can turn yellow (chlorotic) on dry, alkaline sites","native_range":"Coastal plain and river valleys from Delaware to Florida, west to Texas and up the Mississippi valley to Illinois; also Mexico and Guatemala","description":"A deciduous conifer with soft, feathery leaves that turn rusty orange before dropping, a straight tapered trunk and, in wet ground, the famous knees. It is one of the longest-lived trees in North America and is a natural along Austin creeks and lakes. On dry, rocky, alkaline ground it struggles and scorches, so match it to moist, deep soil.","care":"Water generously through establishment and in dry summers; it is happiest where its roots can reach moisture. In Central Texas choose trees from a western Texas seed source, which tolerate lime better. Little pruning is needed. Knees may appear in lawns near water; bagworms and spider mites are the usual pests.","benefits":["flood_tolerant","long_lived","fall_color","wildlife","birds","storm_resistant","shade"],"uses":["riparian","parks","yard_shade","street_tree"],"cautions":["surface_roots"],"image_url":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/Taxodium_distichum_NRCSMS01010.jpg","image_credit":", Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","sources":["https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/TADI2","https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=TADI2","https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/taxodium-distichum/","https://www.austintexas.gov/watershed-protection/plant-guide/cypress-bald"],"data_note":null,"updated_at":"2026-11-08T01:00:46.205Z","page_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/taxodium-distichum","markdown_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/taxodium-distichum.md","regions":[{"country":"US","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":"Also native in: IL, IN, KY, MD, MO, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VA (USDA PLANTS distribution)","source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/TADI2"},{"country":"US","region":"AL","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/TADI2"},{"country":"US","region":"AR","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/TADI2"},{"country":"US","region":"FL","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/TADI2"},{"country":"US","region":"GA","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/TADI2"},{"country":"US","region":"LA","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/TADI2"},{"country":"US","region":"MS","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/TADI2"},{"country":"US","region":"NC","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/TADI2"},{"country":"US","region":"OK","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/TADI2"},{"country":"US","region":"SC","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/TADI2"},{"country":"US","region":"TN","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/TADI2"},{"country":"US","region":"TX","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/TADI2"},{"country":"US","region":"CA","locality":"Sacramento","status":"recommended","note":"On the Sacramento Tree Foundation Shady 80 recommended trees list","source_url":"https://sactree.org/best-trees-for-sacramento/"},{"country":"US","region":"DC","locality":"Washington","status":"recommended","note":"On the Casey Trees Tree Rebate eligible species list","source_url":"https://caseytrees.org/rebate"},{"country":"US","region":"GA","locality":"Atlanta","status":"recommended","note":"On the Trees Atlanta Top 50 Atlanta Trees list","source_url":"https://treesatlanta.org/resources/50-atlanta-trees/"},{"country":"US","region":"NY","locality":"New York","status":"recommended","note":"On the NYC Parks Street Tree Planting Approved Species List","source_url":"https://www.nycgovparks.org/trees/street-tree-planting/species-list"},{"country":"US","region":"TX","locality":"Austin","status":"recommended","note":"On the City of Austin Grow Green native and adapted plant list (Watershed Protection). Listed as 'Cypress, Bald' for riparian/moist, deep soil or poor drainage conditions only; obtain plants of western seed source.","source_url":"https://www.austintexas.gov/watershed-protection/plant-guide/cypress-bald"},{"country":"US","region":"TX","locality":"Dallas","status":"recommended","note":"On the City of Dallas Article X Approved Tree List","source_url":"https://dallas.gov/departments/sustainabledevelopment/buildinginspection/DCH%20documents/pdf/BI_Approved%20Tree%20List.pdf"},{"country":"US","region":"TX","locality":"Houston","status":"recommended","note":"On the City of Houston Planning and Development Department Street Tree List","source_url":"https://www.houstontx.gov/planning/DevelopRegs/StreetTree_files/StreetTree.xlsx"}],"license":"CC-BY-4.0"}