General Culture:
Best grown in average, medium to wet, moisture-retentive soils in full sun. Prefers moist, acidic, sandy soils, but actually tolerates a wide range of soil conditions ranging from average moisture soils to wet soils in some standing water.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Pond cypress is a deciduous conifer that is native to the coastal plain from Virginia to Florida to Louisiana. It is most often found on the peripheries of ponds and lakes, hence the common name. It is very similar in form and habit to the common bald cypress (see Taxodium distichum – M510). Moreover, the two trees share some of the same indigenous areas and reportedly will hybridize in the wild. Pond cypress is generally a smaller and narrower tree, typically rising to 30-70’ tall. Young trees have cylindrical crowns, but older trees develop more flattened irregular crowns. Bark is gray-brown to red-brown. Horizontal to ascending branching. Awl-like, appressed, deciduous leaves are spirally arranged. Foliage turns orange-brown in fall. In comparison to bald cypress, pond cypress trees (1) are somewhat smaller; (2) have appressed, spirally arranged leaves, (3) have root knees that are more rounded, and (4) usually grow on pond margins as opposed to in the water. Synonymous with T. distichum var. nutans. Some experts consider pond cypress to be a different species, namely T. ascendens. Also commonly called dwarf cypress or hat-rack cypress.
Problems:
Healthy, well-maintained trees in the proper growing conditions usually have few problems.
Uses:
Good specimen for growing in wet soils either in low spots or near water.
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Garden, 2001-2010
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