Bald Cypress Tree

Name: Bald Cypress Tree
Brand: Nature Hills Nursery
SKU: 11705
Price: 92.91 USD
Availability: InStock

Taxodium distichum

Nature Hills Nursery

$92⁹¹

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In Stock

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Find your Growing Zone

Plant Size

#3 Container 3-4 Feet

Product variants

Delivery and Shipping

Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4	Week of March 30th
Zone 5	Week of March 16th
Zone 6-12	Week of March 2nd

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Kids just love the soft ferny foliage of the wonderful native tree Bald Cypress Tree (Taxodium distichum)! You'll love how simple it is to create a strong focal point and gain welcome shade that lasts for generations. Just plant this admirable and unique tree in your yard!

In spring, radiant, new green needles develop. The fern-like foliage is soft and flowing and grows into a graceful accent for your colorful summer plantings. Able to grow 50 - 65 feet tall and 20 - 30 feet wide, these unique trees form a rounded pyramidal canopy, and the slightly upturned, spreading branches are open and airy.

This tall tree is a rare deciduous conifer that offers a fantastic fall color display as the soft, short, and feathery needles turn a gorgeous cinnamon red for autumn. This is a tree that will certainly turn heads throughout the fall season.

Next, the tree drops its needles for the winter. This is where the nickname "Bald" comes from! All winter, the Bald Cypress provides visual interest and the attractive flared trunk has its moment to shine. The silvery-gray bark has a wonderful shaggy texture that exfoliates to reveal noteworthy flashes of coppery, reddish-brown beneath.

Late summer and fall also bring green, round seedball-like cones with two triangular seeds inside. Many animals find shelter in Bald Cypress trees. The seeds are eaten by Wild Turkeys, Wood Ducks, Evening Grosbeaks, Squirrels, Waterfowl, and Wading Birds. Fantastic wildlife trees, and all sorts of wild birds such as eagles love to nest in this tree. If grown in or near the water, frogs, and amphibians use their roots as a habitat.

This is an easy-care native tree, and it is one of the oldest living trees in the world. The oldest known Bald Cypress Tree is found in North Carolina and is over 600 years old! With a wide native range throughout USDA growing zones 4 to 10, including swampy areas of the Mississippi Valley in the Southeastern and Southern United States, this versatile tree can tolerate standing water.

Planting and Application:

The Bald Cypress is a large-scale tree with a pyramidal outline that would be a fantastic native focal point for a large property, or big open spaces. Now, you may not see much of that in suburbia, but your kids will love to play under the "pettable" branches. They'll happily scramble over the fluted base and play in the cool, refreshing shade.

The Bald Cypress is also a fast-growing tree with 2.5 feet of growth expected each year. They'll handle urban conditions, sun, partial shade, and a variety of soil types without missing a beat. You'll love the speedy way it rockets up to achieve a lovely, refreshing shade for you and your family. Parks and municipalities like to include them in the mix of trees being planted to increase the diversity of the urban landscape.

These tall, long-lived trees are highly adaptable to most soils. Perfect for low-lying areas, and Rain Gardens, the Bald Cypress tree provides decorative interest all year round! Can be used by rivers and lake properties that have wet soils. This is a perfect tree to shade a dock or boat house, including the basin or Zone 1 where periods of extended moisture can occur. It will filter runoff water from roofs or driveways beautifully!

If grown around ponds or standing water, the root system may eventually develop a few of those cute "knees" after several decades. If grown in drier conditions, it will not develop "Cypress Knees". But, don't worry - it will still be cute!

Give them plenty of room to reach their mature height and width. You'll want to use these trees as an anchor in a large natural planting. Try underplanting them with other wetland plants or high moisture-loving shrubs and perennials that can handle a bit of shade beneath their limbs.

Soft Green Foliage
Tall Straight Trunk & Exfoliating Gray/Brown Bark
Cinnamon Red Fall Color!
Fast-Growing & Long-Lived
Wildlife Species Trees
Impressive Lawn & Specimen Trees & Around Wetland & Water-Sources

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Also known as Swamp Cypress, it is well-known for its love of wet areas but is also adaptable to dry areas and city environments. It can handle a wide variety of soil types and absolutely loves slightly acidic soil. Bald Cypress grows beautifully in either full sun or partial sun. Give young trees moderate yet regular moisture to establish for the first several growing seasons. Baby it just a bit, and you'll be so glad you did! If needed, prune any crisscrossing branches in early spring. Set up these long-lived trees for life by planting them with the symbiotic support of Nature Hills Root Booster and a 3-4 inch deep layer of mulch around the roots.

Full Sun & Some Part Shade
Moderate Moisture Needs - Tolerates Wet Soil
Any Well-Drained Soil & Prefers Acidic Soil
Prune If Needed Early Spring
Low Maintenance Hardy Native Tree

What a cool tree! Order yours today and get started with a tree that will shade generations to come. You'll love this soft and touchable unique tree. Generations of poets and writers have been inspired by it, and you will be, too. Order today at NatureHills.com!

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Growing Zones 4-10

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will Bald Cypress knees grow in my yard, and are they a problem for mowing or landscaping?

Bald Cypress knees typically only develop when trees are planted in consistently wet or waterlogged soil conditions. In normal yard conditions with well-draining soil, knee formation is rare and shouldn't interfere with mowing or landscaping. If knees do appear, they can be carefully pruned at ground level without harming the tree.

Can I plant Bald Cypress in dry soil, or does it only like wet areas?

Bald Cypress adapts well to both wet and dry soil conditions despite its swamp origins. This versatile native thrives in zones 4-10 and tolerates various moisture levels once established. Plant in well-draining soil and water regularly the first year, then enjoy decades of low-maintenance growth available at naturehills.com.

What are the care requirements for Bald Cypress, like watering and sunlight?

Bald Cypress is an exceptionally easy-care native tree that thrives in USDA zones 4-10. It tolerates both wet and dry conditions, preferring full sun to partial shade. This versatile tree adapts to various soil types and moisture levels. Simply plant in well-draining soil and water regularly the first year to establish strong roots.

Does Bald Cypress produce fall color, and what does it look like?

Yes, Bald Cypress produces stunning fall color as its soft, feathery needles turn a gorgeous cinnamon red in autumn. This rare deciduous conifer creates a head-turning display before dropping its needles for winter. Plant in zones 4-10 for reliable seasonal color that lasts for generations.

When do Bald Cypress trees leaf out in spring, and is size a factor?

Bald Cypress trees leaf out in mid to late spring with radiant green needles, regardless of mature size. Both young saplings and established trees follow the same seasonal timing across zones 4-10. Shop at Nature Hills for healthy specimens that will reliably break dormancy each spring.

Does Bald Cypress tolerate alkaline soil, or does it need acidic conditions?

Bald Cypress adapts well to both acidic and alkaline soil conditions, making it quite versatile for different garden settings. This native tree naturally grows across USDA zones 4-10 in varied soil types. For best results, ensure good drainage even though it tolerates wet conditions.

How does Bald Cypress ship—bare-root or potted—and what care is needed after arrival?

Bald Cypress trees typically ship as potted plants during the growing season and bare-root during dormancy (late fall through early spring). Upon arrival, water thoroughly and plant in your prepared site within zones 4-10. Give it consistent moisture the first year while roots establish.