Pond Cypress

Description

Botanical Name:  Taxodium ascendens

Common Name:  Pond Cypress

Description:  Everybody has heard of the bald cypress. Well, this is its cousin the pond cypress. It is a Florida native.

This deciduous, 70-80′ tall x 20′ wide cypress is narrowly conical or columnar with spreading branches and upright branchlets. The foliage is bright-green changing to a rich orange-brown in fall. The bark is light-brown and deeply furrowed. Extremely wind resistant. No serious disease or insect problems. A gall which so commonly effects T. distichum is less evident on T. ascendens. “Knees” do not form to the degree they do on T. distichum. Deer resistant. Birds and small mammals eat the seeds. Makes a great shade tree. Is a moderate grower and can live about 80 years.

Its native habitat is in freshwater swamps, marl prairies, and smaller wetlands that historically burned. Restricted to areas that dry out periodically (for reproduction) and naturally found in areas that flood (for seed dispersal) in loam, organic material (muck), or sandy soil with acidic pH. Adapts to drier soils, but is not drought tolerant for extended periods of time. Grows in sun, part sun, or part shade.

Tolerant of inundation with brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray.

This plant in 3-gallon containers is 2-4′ tall.

This plant in 7-gallon containers is 4-6′ tall.

Plant Lore:  It is called “pond cypress” because it prefers to grow in standing water in ponds and swamps versus running water like streams and rivers.

Florida Hardiness Zone 8 -10