Taxodium distichum
The Swamp Cypress or Taxodium distichum has a conical habit and enjoys moist soil. Its foliage turns rich dark orange and brown through autumn. At RHS Garden Hyde Hall it is planted on a small island in the Lower Pond within the Hilltop Garden where its colourful reflections can be appreciated. As you walk past the island you can also admire its characteristic ‘knees’ which protrude from the base of the tree and help it survive in the water.
Vital statistics
- Common name
- Swamp cypress
- Family
- Cupressaceae
- Height & spread
- 20-40m tall, 6-9m wide.
- Form
- Deciduos coniferous tree
- Soil
- Moist or wet, preferably acid soil
- Aspect
- Full or partial shade
- Hardiness
- Hardy throughout the British Isles
Taxodium
This is a genus of two species of upright, conical deciduous or semi-evergreen coniferous trees. They grow in swampy areas and river margins, often in shady spots in a range that stretches from SE USA to Guatemala. It has two types of shoots; deciduous, without buds, that fall in autumn, and persistent, with buds, from which only the leaves fall. The narrow leaves are arranged radially or in two ranks. Male cones grow in groups and female cones are scattered. They are late to come into leaf in the spring and also late to fall, bearing spectacular autumn colour before hand. They form aerial roots known as pneumatophores or “knees” at water level if growing in very wet conditions.
Taxodium distichum
This conical tree from south-eastern USA has brittle branches and can start to look raggedy with age as it becomes more columnar. Its bark is shallow, fissured and pale brown. Its pale green leaves are 2cm long and turn rich yellow-brown in autumn. On persistent shoots, the leaves are small and scale-like. Spherical green female cones 3cm across ripen to brown in autumn, and pendent, red male cones expand in winter.
It can grow up to 45 cm a year. It seems to be a long-lived tree, possibly living for over 1000 years in the wild!
Taxodium distichum var. imbricarium, pond cypress, is narrowly conical, with dull brown bark and radial leaves 5-10mm long lying flat on erect shoots. It is smaller than the species, reaching 10-20m high.
Taxodium distichum var. imbricarium ‘Nutans’ AGM has erect foliage shoots, becoming pendent when mature.
Cultivation
Grow in any moist or wet, preferably acid soil in full or partial shade. Established plants succeed in standing water up to 60cm deep where they develop “knees”. It is a healthy species in this country, free of pests and diseases.
Unlike most conifers, this species responds well to coppicing.
Propagation
Sow seed in containers in a cold frame in late winter or spring. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Graft cultivars in late winter or take cuttings in late summer.
AGM
The RHS Woody Plant Committee awarded Taxodium distichum an Award of Garden Merit and described it as a:
"Deciduous conifer making a medium-sized tree with a conical crown, fibrous red-brown bark and soft, feathery, light green foliage turning rich yellow-brown in autumn. Small ovoid cones."
The RHS Woody Plant Committee awarded Taxodium distichum var. imbricarium ‘Nutans’ an Award of Garden Merit and described it as a:
"Columnar, deciduous conifer making a medium-sized tree with spreading or ascending main branches and drooping branchlets with soft green linear leaves turning orange-brown in autumn."