Taxodium distichum

RHS Plant Profile
swamp cypress

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swamp cypress RHS 1997

Other common names

bald cypress, deciduous cypress, sabino tree, southern cypress, white cypress

Conifers Trees Bogs
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A deciduous coniferous tree to 20m or more, with a conical crown, fibrous red-brown bark and soft, feathery, light green foliage turning rich yellow-brown in autumn. Small, green, resinous ovoid cones appear in the spring, turning brown in the autumn

Position

Full shade, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
20–50 years
Max Spread
4-8 metres
Max Height
Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Poorly–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full shade Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing or North–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Cupressaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus
Taxodium are tall deciduous trees, narrowly conical in outline, with red-brown bark and soft, linear leaves colouring well in autumn
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
SE USA to Guatemala

How to Grow

Cultivation

Good specimen tree, suited to wet conditions

Propagation

Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Architectural

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility