I want to discuss one of my favorite trees this week.  A conifer that was never told not to lose all of its leaves during the winter!  A tree that has been wrongly cut down on countless occasions due to being the misunderstood child of the conifer family.  This weeks Plant of the Week is the Bald Cypress or Taxodium distichum!  Lets discuss why you should be double checking what tree you are taking down!

The Bald Cypress is a wonderfully unique tree.  As I stated before, this conifer looses its needle-like leaves in the fall.  Their fall color comes early and is beautiful, with the leaves turning golds, tans and oranges.  However, this makes for an odd sight and leaves many home owners asking, “WHY IS MY TREE DEAD?”.  Odd is not always bad though, Bald Cypress have a beautiful branching shape that stands out during the cooler months.  While the trees unique texture and coloring during the warmer months make it an interesting focal point in a landscape.  The strangest feature of all however is the “knees” these trees develop with age.  Nothing like our own knees, the knees of the Bald Cypress develop to allow the plant to breath in its natural environment, the swamp.  Plants always find a way to survive!

The Bald Cypress is one of the tallest and longest living trees in America.  Commonly growing up to 120 feet in height and 600 years in age!  Read more details about this fascinating tree here and here!