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.