Cypress, Bald

Description:

Although native to the southeast, this tree is hardy enough for northern Maine! The bald cypress grows in swamps and can thrive in year-round flooded areas, but it also survives in dry and compacted soils. Like the dawn redwood and larches the bald cypress is a deciduous conifer, shedding its needles every autumn. The fall color is a pleasing orange, and the reddish to grayish brown bark contributes to winter interest. It grows 60 feet to 70 feet high and 25 feet to 30 feet wide.

Bald cypress is a specimen tree with unique features, not the least of which are the protruding “knees” that grow around the tree in highly compacted or wet soils. These are areas, in fact, where few other tree varieties would thrive, much less grow additional features. The “knees” are very attractive, especially when combined with other landscaping features. Bald cypress trees constitute an excellent choice for a deciduous conifer for parks or large lawns, especially those near bodies of water.