# Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum)

> 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.

Source: https://treerm.org/trees/taxodium-distichum · Updated 2026-11-08 · License CC BY 4.0

## Facts

- Also called: Baldcypress, Swamp cypress
- Family: Cupressaceae
- Type: Conifer
- Mature height: 20 m; spread 10 m
- Growth: Medium growth
- USDA hardiness zones: 4 to 9
- Light: Sun or part shade
- Water: Moderate water
- 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

**Benefits:** Flood tolerant, Long lived, Fall color, Wildlife, Birds, Storm resistant, Shade

**Good for:** Streambanks, parks, Yard shade, Street tree

**Watch out for:** Surface roots

## 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.

## Where it stands

- **Native:** United States (Also native in: IL, IN, KY, MD, MO, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VA (USDA PLANTS distribution)); AL, United States; AR, United States; FL, United States; GA, United States; LA, United States; MS, United States; NC, United States; OK, United States; SC, United States; TN, United States; TX, United States
- **Recommended:** Sacramento, CA, United States (On the Sacramento Tree Foundation Shady 80 recommended trees list); Washington, DC, United States (On the Casey Trees Tree Rebate eligible species list); Atlanta, GA, United States (On the Trees Atlanta Top 50 Atlanta Trees list); New York, NY, United States (On the NYC Parks Street Tree Planting Approved Species List); Austin, TX, United States (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.); Dallas, TX, United States (On the City of Dallas Article X Approved Tree List); Houston, TX, United States (On the City of Houston Planning and Development Department Street Tree List)

## 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