Bald Cypress Seedlings

Our bald cypress seedlings are Taxodium distichum, the native deciduous conifer that grows in southern swamps and also does fine on ordinary dry ground. They ship bare-root at 6-12 inches, 12-18 inches and as a row run of mixed 6 to 24 inch seedlings, in packs of 100, 500 and 1000, for wetland restoration, pond banks, large-scale plantings and nurseries growing on.

Bald Cypress Seedlings Size, Zones and Sun

Mature trees run 50 to 70 feet high and 20 to 30 feet across, and the growth is steady, not fast. They're hardy in zones 4 to 9 and take full sun or part shade. Water is where bald cypress stands apart. It grows in regular garden soil, it grows where the ground floods, and it can stand in floodwater for long stretches. Acidic soil, under pH 6, is the best match.

Bald Cypress Needles, Bark and Knees

The needles are short and flat, only a quarter to three-quarters of an inch long, soft and feathery, and yellowish green in spring. In fall the whole tree turns orange-cinnamon and drops its needles, so it's a deciduous conifer. Bark is reddish-brown to gray and peels in thin vertical strips. Near water, trees often send up knobby 'knees' from the roots.

Bald Cypress and Wildlife

Wood ducks eat the seeds, and wild turkeys and squirrels use the tree as well. Old trees hollow out and shelter other animals. Cypress stands along the water also give frogs, toads and salamanders cover. Our wet-site solutions for bald cypress shows how it's used on soggy ground.

Where to Plant Bald Cypress

Pond edges, drainage swales, stream banks, rain gardens, low spots in large lawns and floodplain restoration are all good sites. It's also fine on regular upland soil, where it just grows a little slower. Our complete bald cypress seedling guide covers site choice in more detail.

Planting Bald Cypress Seedlings

Keep the roots damp until planting. Open a hole wide enough that the roots hang straight, set the seedling at the depth it grew in the field, and firm the soil. Water in well. If the site is dry, give the seedlings a deep soak each week through the first summer.

Buying Bald Cypress Seedlings in Bulk

Row run is the economical choice for acreage, since it's a mix of 6 to 24 inch seedlings straight from the row. The graded 6-12 and 12-18 inch sizes are more even, which suits nurseries and showpiece plantings. At 10 by 10 feet, about 435 seedlings cover an acre, so a pack of 500 plants a bit more than that.

Good to Know About Bald Cypress

In alkaline soil the needles can yellow. Bagworms and spider mites sometimes visit, and twig blight turns up now and then. Trees along water may produce knees that make mowing harder, so keep turf away from the root zone near ponds.

Bald Cypress Seedlings for Restoration and Screening

Most trees die on flooded ground. Bald cypress doesn't, which is why it ends up on soggy pond banks, along ditch lines and across cleared bottomland nobody wants to mow. The roots hold the soil, and the crown shades the water. On dry upland it grows slower and stays smaller. Some buyers pair it with sycamore and river birch to build a buffer along a creek.

Bald Cypress Seedling Sizes, Packs and Shipping

Bald cypress seedlings ship bare-root in November, in 6-12 inch and 12-18 inch sizes or a 6 to 24 inch row run, in packs of 100, 500 and 1000. Volume pricing available. Browse more bare-root seedlings in our wholesale collection.