The soft and feathery foliage of Bald Cypress belies the tough character of this deciduous conifer. Its flat, short needlelike leaves are borne in graceful sprays that emerge a pale green in the spring and darken to medium green through the summer. Foliage turns to rich orange-bronze in the fall prior to leaf drop.

This American native is indigenous to wetlands of the Southern and Central U.S. It adapts to a wide range of climates and is hardy enough to survive in parts of southern Canada. Physical characteristics, range and cultural requirements of Bald Cypress are comparable to its relative, Dawn Redwood. Though they appear very similar, these members of the Taxodiaceae family can be easily identified by the arrangement of the leaves. Bald Cypress has alternate leaves, while those of Dawn Redwood are opposite.

Bald Cypress grows in standing water in swamps, where the trunks of older specimens are buttressed with characteristic "cypress knees". Knees do not develop in landscape conditions. Though it thrives under very wet conditions including irrigated lawn areas, it is also quite tolerant of dry soils. Bald Cypress has proven to be widely adaptable to city conditions. For suggested landscape uses, turn to the article on Dawn Redwood in this edition.