Photo by: Roger Hammer, Dade Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Roger Hammer, Dade Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Carolyn Moore
Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Roger Hammer, Dade Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

pond cypress

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Taxodium ascendens

Family:

Cupressaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

50 - 85 ft tall by 15-30 ft wide.  Depending on nutrients and water regime, this can be a small tree or tree-like shrub or it can be a large tree.

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

NA

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Deciduous

Noted For:

Hurricane Wind Resistance, Fall Color, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Specimen tree. Mass plantings in moist areas. Wetland restoration and enhancement.

Considerations:

May produce knees (roots that poke up above ground level) even if grown in uplands. This species is less prone to knees than bald cypress(T. distchum).

Availability:

Quality Nurseries, Native Nurseries, Specialty Provider, Seed

Propagation:

Cones. Needs good moisture (but not flooding) to sprout. Can be transplanted into moist uplands with expectation of success.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Aquatic ---to--- Somewhat moist, no flooding

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam, Organic

Soil pH:

acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Birds, Mammals

Seeds are used by some mammals and seed-eating birds.

Native Habitats:

Usually found in smaller wetlands that historically burned. Restricted to areas that dry out periodically (for reproduction) and naturally found in areas that flood (for seed dispersal).

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

This is a deciduous conifer.