Taxodium distichum

Taxodium distichum is an unusual deciduous conifer that grows on very wet or seasonally flooded soil. 

It is native to the Florida Everglades and introduced into the UK in the early 1640’s by John Tradescant, winning the Awards of Garden Merit in 2002.

The Swamp Cypress is often confused with Metasequoia, yet upon closer inspection it is markedly different. 

The foliage is bright green, needle-like and has a soft appearance to it and being deciduous gives a glorious display of bright orange in the autumn time. 

This tree is particularly late coming into leaf in the UK, so do not fear if your tree appears to be slow to come to life. 

The tree has bark which is brown in colour and very fibrous and produces small, round seed cones that are purple when young.

Taxodium distichum absolutely loves the water and therefore prefers to have access to good sources of moisture in the soil and will tolerate water logged soil well.

 It will certainly require plenty of water in the first 2 years after planting to ensure that it will thrive. 

This massive specimen will grow well over 20m tall and is usually pyramidal in shape, however there are some specimens that suggest genetic variability does breed some specimens that are more oval than pyramidal.

Swamp Cypress does very well at the edge of ponds and in wetter parklands where they naturally have access to plenty of water and are allowed the space to reach their full potential.

Mature height: 20m+