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Bald Cypress is a beautiful, native tree
Mississippi Gardens Newspaper and Web Column - June 16, 2003

A friend told me recently that I was going to have to stop writing about new plants because he was running out of room in his yard! He's right about the fact that we have a tremendous amount of colorful bedding plants, trees, shrubs and vines to choose from that look great in Mississippi gardens. That makes my job of recommending plants for Southern landscapes a lot easier especially when the subject is landscape beautification.

It might be surprising that we would consider using the bald cypress tree (Taxodium distichum) in a landscape setting. Just the mention of the name might conjure thoughts of a bayou with Spanish moss draping down from cypress trees so big you can't put your arms around them and cypress "knees" that rise up from the water or soggy soil at the base of the tree. After all, it is the state tree of Louisiana. It's true that cypress trees flourish in that type of habitat but they can also be outstanding landscape trees on ground that is high and dry.

The bald cypress tree was at one time a primary source of lumber in the Mississippi River flood plain. I remember seeing a cypress tree years ago along the Pascagoula River that was easily 10 feet wide at its base! They can reach massive proportions in the wild, often reaching 100 feet tall and 60 feet wide but in the average landscape it is more likely to be less than 50 feet tall and 25 feet wide at maturity.

Modern landscape architects have effectively used the exotic appearance of the bald cypress to spice up both residential and commercial landscapes. Some of the reasons for its popularity include its unique overall appearance and the soft, fernlike foliage that can be described as emerald green in the spring turning to a red-brown in the fall. The growth habit of the bald cypress is also an attractive pyramidal shape when young becoming more rounded and spreading with age.

The bald cypress can be grown in full sun or part shade. It is tolerant of poor soil drainage and, of course, is well adapted to high moisture situations. There are no pest problems and no pruning is required. And, over a 13- year period, the bald cypress was one of the most highly rated trees in the Auburn University tree evaluation program.

Cultivars of bald cypress may be found in the market place but seedling trees do just fine. Some of the named varieties include 'Apache Chief', 'Fastigiata' (columnar form), 'Monarch of Illinois' and 'Pendens', (pyramidal form with semi arching branches). Bald cypress is truly a beautiful native North American tree that would be a great addition to Mississippi landscapes, if yours isn't already full. Happy Gardening!

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These archived columns were written by Kerry Johnson, a hobby gardener, former weekly newspaper columnist and an Area Extension Horticulture Agent for 11 coastal counties in Mississippi.