Bald Cypress Tree

The bright color change of the Bald Cypress leaves in the fall is beautiful and long lasting. The Bald Cypress Tree is a large deciduous tree that often reaches heights of 130 ft. at maturity. The small needles of the Bald Cypress Tree fill the summer air with a unique fragrance, the shape of the tree appearing rugged and oriental.

• The Bald Cypress trees are deciduous conifers which occur near damp soils or swamps. Because the wood of the Bald Cypress tree grows under such wet, stressful conditions, it is very resistant to water rot and has been called "wood eternal". Wood from fallen pre-historic trees is still found as far North as New England. Seeds are spread by moving water and wildlife but will only germinate given damp but not wet conditions for several months. Female cones are found singly or in clusters of 2-3 near the end of the branch containing 18-30 seeds each. It has value to wildlife habitat for ducks and squirrels and grows from coastal plains from Delaware to Florida, west to Texas and North to Illinois. It is planted from Michigan to Massachusetts; seed are digested by quail doves, grouse, songbirds, and squirrels.

• Lumber harvested from the Bald Cypress trees are highly resistant to weather and not even painted sometimes in house exteriors. Game birds of all kinds love to hide in the branches of the Bald Cypress Tree! The tree is usually best performing near standing water, although it will also grow well in dry locations. No tree grows better in a pond or lakeside lot than the Bald Cypress Tree. Wildlife love to make it's home in these trees. The wood of the tree is virtually indestructible, being shunned by termites and decay organisms. Bald cypress is a large deciduous tree often reaching heights of 130 ft at maturity.