bald cypress

Plant Type

Large Tree (greater than 25 ft)

Life Cycle

Perennial

Typical Size

50-70 ft. tall
20-30 ft. wide

Tolerant of

Occasional Flooding

Propagation

By seed

Plant Planting Notes

Provide adequate space for this large growing tree.

Plants/Diseases

No significant disease or pest issues.

Wildlife Benefits

Host plant for butterfly larvae, Fruit/seeds for birds

Leaves

Needles alternate or whorled, lanceolate or linear turning from green to gold to yellow in fall.

Flowers

Male flowers appear as long drooping panicles. Female flowers are toward the ends of the branches.

Fruit

Round cones with irregular, thick scales.

Bark

The bark is dark brown to gray that exfoliates in vertical strips.

Toxicity

No known toxicity.

USDA Hardiness Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Light Exposure

Full Sun, Part Sun/Shade

Soil Drainage

Well-drained, Poorly Drained

Soil pH

Acidic (less than 6.0)

Native in South Carolina?

Yes

Plant Native Habitat

Brown and blackwater swamps, bottomland forests, lake margins, and river banks.

Global Conservation Status (NatureServe)

Secure (G5)

Federal Conservation Status (USFWS)

Not Listed

Distribution Notes

Common in the coastal plain and rare in the piedmont.