Bald Cypress

Taxodium distichum Taxodium distichum, known as bald cypress, is a charming conifer that typically reaches heights of 50 to 70 feet, and on occasion can even soar up to 125 feet! While it may look like an evergreen in the summer, this lovely tree is actually deciduous, shedding its leaves in the fall, which is how it earned its "bald" nickname. You can usually find it thriving in the southern swamps, bayous, and rivers, particularly along the coastal regions from Maryland to Texas and within the lower Mississippi River valley, stretching as far north as the southeastern corner of Missouri. In the deep South, bald cypress often grows right in the swampy waters, sometimes gathering in delightful groups, with its branches gracefully draped in Spanish moss.  This remarkable tree also flourishes in drier, upland soils, where it develops fascinating knobby roots that peek out above the water when submerged. Its soft, feathery foliage starts off a lovely yellowish-green, transforming into a s