Birthday
HydrangeasIn the southern United States there are places where trees grow straight out of the water: their trunks flare at the base, their branches are draped in grey “Spanish moss”, and strange woody knobs, the “knees”, stick up from the water. This is the bald cypress, Taxodium distichum. One of the most picturesque places to see it is Caddo Lake on the Texas–Louisiana border.
Living plants for your home: potted plants.
What kind of tree it is
The bald cypress is a conifer in the cypress family, native to the southeastern United States. Unlike most conifers it is deciduous: in autumn its soft needles turn rusty orange and fall along with the small twigs. The trees are very long-lived, with some individuals estimated at more than a thousand years old.
How it lives in water
- A buttressed base. The trunk swells near the water, helping the tree stand firm in soft ground.
- “Knees”. Cone-shaped outgrowths rise from the roots above the water. Their purpose is not fully understood; scientists suggest they help anchor the tree and may play a part in root gas exchange.
- Flood tolerance. Bald cypress can grow in standing water for years, although its seeds only germinate on wet, not flooded, soil.
Caddo Lake
Caddo Lake lies in eastern Texas on the Louisiana border. Its bayous and inlets are thick with cypress forest draped in “Spanish moss”, which is not a moss but an epiphyte, Tillandsia usneoides, a relative of the air plants grown indoors. The scenery makes the lake popular with photographers and kayakers.
Does bald cypress grow in Ukraine?
Yes, it copes well with a temperate climate and grows in several Ukrainian botanical gardens, arboreta and city parks, including beside ponds, where it also forms knees. It suits a garden with enough room and moist soil, as it grows tall and likes sun.
- Plant it in a sunny spot beside a pond or in a damp hollow.
- Water young trees in dry spells.
- Do not worry about the rusty autumn needle drop; it is normal.
More remarkable trees in “Unusual trees of the world” and “General Sherman”.
FAQ
Why does the bald cypress lose its needles?
It is a deciduous conifer, like larch: the needles fall in autumn and grow back in spring.
What is the “Spanish moss” on the branches?
It is Tillandsia usneoides, an epiphyte that does not feed on the tree but only uses it for support.
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Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
