Smithsonian Gardens

Common name: Pond Cypress

Family: Cupressaceae (Cypress)

Synonym: Taxodium ascendens

Distribution: SE USA

Habitat: Riparian; 0-100 meters

Hardiness: -20 - 30 F

Life form: Deciduous tree

Fall color: Orange-brown, copper

Foliage characteristics: Appressed, spirally arranged. Most ascend vertically.

Bark characteristics: Gray-brown to red-brown and peeling.

Average height: 30-70'

Structure: Young: cylindrical Mature: flattened, irregular

Key ID characteristics: Somewhat smaller than bald cypress; have appressed, sprially arraned leaves; have more rounded root knees; usually grow on pond margins, rather than in the water.

Description: Pond cypress is a bald cypress variant, although some experts consider it to be a different species. The main differences between the two are that pond cypress is slightly smaller, has leaves that are narrower with more tightly pressed together leaflets, has rounder knees, and usually grows at the water’s edge, rather than in water.