Taxodium: Planting, Growing and Care

Description and botany

The Taxodium is a conifer from the Taxodiaceae family, like the sequoias and metasequoias. It grows naturally in waterlogged to moist soils. It is emblematic of the marshlands and waterways of the southeastern United States, from Mississippi to the Florida Everglades, as well as Mexico. It is particularly found in the bayous of Louisiana. The Bald Cypress was introduced to France in the mid-18th century. The Taxodium genus includes only two species: the Taxodium distichum, also called Bald Cypress or Louisiana Cypress due to its deciduous foliage, which has given rise to several varieties such as the cultivar ‘Pevé Minaret’, a dwarf form of the species, and the Taxodium ascendens or Pond Cypress, which has a trailing habit. Their unique characteristic is having deciduous rather than evergreen foliage, unlike most conifers.

Bald Cypress illustration (circa 1903)

When growing in flooded areas, this type of conifer rises on pneumatophores, characteristic roots—lignified outgrowths (absent in well-drained soils)—that emerge up to 1.5 m high above the soil or water around the trunk. They appear on mature specimens (25-30 years old) and allow the root system to capture atmospheric oxygen while anchoring the tree in shifting, regularly submerged soils.

The characteristic roots of Taxodium planted in moist conditions

This cypress has an airy conical silhouette that becomes more rounded with age. In its natural habitat, the Bald Cypress forms a large conifer with a pyramidal habit that becomes more columnar over time, reaching nearly 40 m in height with a trunk diameter of 2 m. In our gardens, its mature size will be limited to 20-25 m in height and 7-8 m in spread. Its growth is rapid, and its longevity is exceptional—it can live up to 500 years. Some cypresses have witnessed centuries, often living for several hundred years. The Taxodium ascendens ‘Nutans’ has more modest dimensions, growing 8 to 15 m tall in cultivation with a spread of 2-3 m. It is better suited to medium-sized gardens and has a lifespan of 1,000 years! The ‘Pevé Minaret’ cultivar is the dwarf version of the Bald Cypress, reaching no more than 3 m in height and 1 m in spread, making it ideal for smaller spaces.

The fibrous, very knotty trunk is covered with thick reddish-brown bark, deeply furrowed, channelled, and cracked with age. Over time, it widens at the base and twists into a spiral.

Silhouette of Taxodium distichum

The Taxodium is remarkable for its fine, light, and changing foliage, which takes on sumptuous hues in autumn, filling the garden with warm, spicy colours. Its long branches divide into persistent twigs that bear deciduous branchlets. It is one of the few conifers that sheds its branchlets and spurs in autumn. Its branchlets are adorned with soft, flattened needles, a fresh green at bud burst. They turn golden shades in autumn before falling. These flexible, upright needles, measuring 1 to 2 cm in length, are arranged spirally in a single rank, unlike the Metasequoia, whose needles are arranged opposite each other. They resemble those of the yew (Taxus baccata) and appear to be arranged in two opposite ranks along a common twig, hence the plant’s name—taxus meaning yew, dis and stikhos, two ranks.

As with monoecious species, male and female cones coexist on the same plant. In spring, male inflorescences in the form of small aments on short twigs release their pollen. The very discreet female flowers, nestled at the base of the male aments, transform after fertilisation into globose, scaly, and pedunculate cones, 2 to 3 cm in diameter, initially green then brown, arranged directly on the twigs in terminal clusters 10 to 30 cm long. They have imbricate scales that retract at ripeness, releasing seeds.

Its soft, rot-resistant wood, lightweight, easy to work, and resistant to wood-boring insects like termites, is prized for furniture, cabinetry, and construction. Its crushed bark makes excellent mulch, similar to pine.

Summer and autumn foliage of Taxodium. Bottom left, fruiting

Main species and varieties

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Planting the Taxodium

Where to Plant a Bald Cypress?

Hardy down to at least -15°C, the Taxodium can withstand harsh winters, making it suitable for planting in the coldest regions of our country. This native of wetlands and marshes will likely be less at ease in Mediterranean regions, as it cannot tolerate dry soils or drought. While it thrives in constantly moist, even flooded soils, and grows in shallow water, it adapts to any ordinary, deep, and cool soil. In such cases, its growth will be slower. It requires some soil moisture to develop rapidly. However, it prefers a slightly acidic soil with low limestone content. Choose a very sunny spot, though it tolerates partial shade.

This tree does not transplant well: so carefully consider the location before planting and allocate enough space, as the typical species can easily exceed 20m in height and 10-12m in width at maturity. To best showcase its ornamental qualities, reserve it a relatively open spot in the garden, without excessive competition. In a medium-sized garden or a town garden, opt for a less bulky and slower-growing variety than the standard type, such as ‘Pevé Minaret’.

It can be grown as an ornamental tree in parks and large gardens, or as a standalone feature in a flowerbed or near a pond. Smaller varieties will thrive in a large container on a terrace or balcony.

Bald cypresses need ample space to fully express themselves

When to Plant a Bald Cypress?

Planting a Bald Cypress is best done in autumn, from September to November, to allow it to establish roots before winter, always avoiding frost periods.

How to Plant It?

In highly calcareous soil, we recommend adding heather soil at planting time. Allow at least 8 to 10m between its trunk and another tree, wall, or fence.

• Dig a planting hole 3 times wider than the root ball
• Use a digging fork to loosen the soil thoroughly to a depth of 80cm
• Spread gravel to ensure good drainage around the roots
• Add manure or compost if the soil is too sandy
• Plant the tree without burying the base of the trunk
• Install 1 to 3 stakes outside the root ball if needed
• Firm the soil and water generously until established
• Mulch around the base to keep the soil cool in summer

Cultivation, care, pruning

This is an easy-to-grow conifer provided the soil remains consistently moist. Water deeply and generously during the first two summers and remain vigilant during hot, dry spells. The soil should never dry out completely. A good mulch layer is recommended. Apply a thick layer of organic mulch (such as pine bark, which will slightly acidify the soil) to retain moisture around the roots and reduce watering needs.

Pruning is not necessary – it’s even preferable not to prune the bald cypress. If absolutely required, limit yourself to annual maintenance before the growing season to remove dead, obstructive or superfluous branches. The bald cypress is resistant to diseases and parasitic organisms.

Bald cypress in summer and autumn

Propagation

Although sowing is possible, taxodium is most commonly propagated by propagation by cuttings in late summer on hardwood.

By cuttings

• Take 15 cm long cuttings from dry branch tips
• Remove the leaves near the base of the cutting and scrape the bark just below a node for about 1 cm in length
• Insert these into moist sand
• Place under cover in partial shade, bring indoors to protect from frost during winter
• Open regularly to prevent rotting
• In spring, transplant the rooted cuttings into pots containing a mix of compost and heather soil and keep them until planting in the ground in autumn

→ Discover our tutorial: How to propagate conifers by cuttings?

Associations

The Taxodium distichum thrives ideally near a pond, on the banks of a lake, or along a watercourse, where it will express its full potential as a specimen tree. Although it usually stands out on its own as a focal point, it pairs easily with bushes or perennials that appreciate the same growing conditions: neutral to acidic and moist soil, light shade or sun. With its golden autumn foliage, it makes a striking addition to beautiful autumnal settings.

Around a water feature, it will flourish alongside remarkable trees such as the Nyssa or black tupelo, which also requires slightly acidic, moist to very wet soil and bursts into fiery hues in autumn, as well as waterside perennials like Acorus gramineus, the highly graphic Equisetum hyemale (japonicum) and Astilbes. Also consider submerged plants like Iris pseudoacorus.

Bald cypress, surrounded by Equisetum hyemale, Iris pseudoacurus, Nyssa sylvatica and Acorus gramineus

In a garden large enough to accommodate it, you can plant it alongside its cousin, the Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Gold Rush’, another large deciduous conifer with magnificent foliage that thrives in waterlogged soils. The bald cypress pairs well with this type of large conifer featuring autumn foliage, such as the Larch.

In a cool to moist border, you can also plant at its base beautiful ferns like Onoclea sensibilis, Matteuccia orientalis and Thelypteris palustris, along with some hostas that tolerate sun. For bushes, consider the foliage of Aucubas and that of Cornus alba, stolonifera or sanguinea, shrubs with remarkable foliage and wood.

Bald cypress at the top centre, in a mix featuring Matteuccia orientalis, Cornus alba, Aucuba japonica, the beautiful marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris) and Hostas

Since the Taxodium distichum (Bald cypress) thrives in slightly acidic soils, it can serve as a backdrop for a mix of heather soil bushes.

You can set the garden ablaze in late season by pairing it with trees and bushes with colourful foliage such as the Liquidambar and the Katsura tree.