Species › Plants › Bald Cypress

Bald Cypress

Taxodium distichum

CommonPlant
Illustration of Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum)

Bald Cypress is an iconic tree of southeastern swamps and river bottoms, one of the few deciduous conifers, and can live over 2,000 years. It produces distinctive woody 'knees' rising from submerged roots, thought to aid in oxygen exchange. Its deeply fluted trunk bases, draped in Spanish moss, are among the most evocative sights in southern wetlands.

Habitat
Swamps, floodplains, and river bottoms of the southeastern United States
Diet
Seeds eaten by wood ducks; large cavities used by wood ducks and owls
How common
Common

Best time to see a Bald Cypress

The best time to see a Bald Cypress is April–September, when about 61% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 28,558 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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