Description
Taxodium distichum – bald cypress
Quality: 1/2 P 30-50
Short description: The bald cypress is a tree of extremes – and a real eye-catcher. As a deciduous conifer, it puts on a spectacular copper and rust-red display in autumn before shedding its needles. It grows quickly, reaches 20–30 m in height, and in permanently wet soils forms the typical “breathing roots” (pneumatophores). Its slender, conical habit makes it an impressive specimen tree for moist sites.
Climatic characteristics & site conditions: For moist and permanently wet sites, the bald cypress is probably the most robust choice – it tolerates waterlogging, flooding and even temporary submersion of the roots without any problems. This makes it ideal for waterside plantings, pond edges and groundwater-near locations in the Alpine foothills, the Allgäu, or river valleys such as the Rhine, Neckar or Inn. It is hardy down to –25 °C. In dry soils it grows significantly more slowly and stays smaller.
Advantages: Unmatched tolerance of waterlogging, spectacular autumn colour, fast growth, robust health, imposing habit, also suitable as a container plant for pond edges.
Disadvantages: Not native (North America), not suitable for dry soils, pneumatophores can make lawn care more difficult, requires plenty of space, not evergreen.
