Taxodium distichum Mickelson – Shawnee Brave™ Bald Cypress

Botanical Name: Taxodium distichum Mickelson

The Shawnee Brave Bald Cypress is a narrow cultivar of the Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum). It is a magnificent deciduous conifer tree that is found growing in the southeastern United States and the Mississippi Valley in swamps, bayous, and rivers. Where these trees grow in the water, they develop buttressed trunks and ‘knees’ that reach up from the roots through the water. The branches can be seen clad in Spanish moss. This tree’s growth habit is narrowly pyramidal or conical, and it grows to a height of 50-75 feet with a spread of 15-20 feet.

The leaves of the Shawnee Brave Bald Cypress are finely textured and yellow-green. They look similar to that of the Coastal Redwood or Yew tree, with flattened needles that grow up to ¼ inches in length. The foliage turns a spectacular, bright orange-bronze in the fall.

Cones develop on the tree between October and December. They are rounded, with a 1 inch diameter, and purplish green in color, maturing to a deep brown. The bark is a beautiful red brown that brings interest to the tree’s winter silhouette.

The Shawnee Brave Bald Cypress should be planted in full sun and will tolerate a wide range of soils, including poor drainage and drier soils. Therefore, it is suitable for use as a street tree or in a rain garden.

Description

Height: 50-75 ft.
Width: 15-20 ft.
Shape: Pyramidal
Flower Color: Non-flowering
Flowering Time: Non-flowering
Fall Color: Bronze
Features: Superior fall color, narrow silhouette, bark gives winter interest
Exposure: Full Sun
Watering: Moderate/Heavy & Regular
Soil: Prefers acidic, moist, sandy loam, but tolerant of a wide range of soils including heavy and wet soils.
Growth Rate: Fast
USDA Zone: 4-9
Uses: Street tree, rain garden
Similar Trees: Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifolia), Scarlet Letter™ Oak (Quercus x robur ‘Scarlet Letter’), Red Obelisk Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Red Obelisk’), Columnar Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’)

Additional information

Shape

Pyramidal

Flower Color

Non-flowering

Flowering Time

Non-flowering

Fall Color

Bronze

Growth Rate

Fast

Uses

Rain Gardens, Street Tree

USDA Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Mature Height

50'+

Mature Width

15'-20'

Exposure

Full Sun

Call Now Button