Bald Cypress are deciduous trees meaning they lose their leaves in the Winter and regrow them in Spring. These trees grow fast and provide a lot of shade in those hot Summer afternoons. Can also be used next to a source of water like a lake or canal as they love the water.
How to care for Bald Cypress
Light. Full sun to partial sun. Sun on all sides gives the most even growth.
Water. Ideal for wet sites such as stream banks. It also tolerates drought once established, but grows faster with steady moisture.
Soil and feeding. It grows in almost any soil, including heavy, poorly drained muck. It struggles in alkaline soil above pH 7.5, common near concrete.
Size. Usually 25 ft or more and fast growing; mature trees often reach 60–80 ft with a 25–35 ft spread.
Pruning. Little needed. Remove dead wood and any unwanted lower branches.
Problems to watch. Mites can brown and drop leaves in dry summers without irrigation. Bagworms may strip branches, and twig blight attacks stressed trees.
Good to know. Needles turn coppery in fall before dropping. Knees form at the water's edge, not on drier sites. Moderately tolerant of salt spray.
Sources: UF/IFAS EDIS ENH-778: Taxodium distichum, Baldcypress
