Taxodium distichum
Bald Cypress
Taxodium distichum, bald cypress, is a large, deciduous conifer with heat tolerance and flexible water requirements. The bald cypress has brilliant yellow fall color and is adapted to a wide variety of environments.
Twig blight, spider mite, gall forming mite, and cypress moths
Good potential utility as an urban tree based on evaluation of 6 trees, healthy crown, 100% survival, moderate growth rate. No signs of pests or diseases found. Roots quickly became rootbound. These trees were difficult to keep irrigated, individuals planted in an over-irrigated site with poor drainage have thrived. Trees have attractive orange fall color.
We trialed 120 day cold stratification in moist peat in plastic bag in refrigerator as well as giving fresh seed a hot water soak and a 45 day cold stratification in moist peat in plastic bag in refrigerator. Both had similarly mediocre germination rates. The seedlings are fast-growing.