Cypress, Pond

The Pond Cypress usually grows to heights between 50 and 80 feet with spreads between 15 and 20 feet. The tree has a narrow, upright, conical shape with a fairly open canopy. For best growth, plant tree in moist acidic soil in full sun. It will also tolerate clay, loam, sand and slightly alkaline soils and can grow in part shade. The Pond Cypress is great for open spaces, both wet and dry, due to its ability to withstand firm winds. The tree’s native habitat is in the western United States and tends to grow on upland areas (around ponds).

The 3/8” long LEAVES are simple, opposite and arranged in a spiral. The incurving of the leaves gives them their awl-shape and allows one to distinguish it from a bald cypress. During the fall the bright green color on the leaves changes to a showy orange-brown/copper color.

In the spring, inconspicuous and non-showy FLOWERS bloom. The male flowers are ovoid shaped and form drooping panicles that look like slender catkins while the female flowers grow at the ends of branches grown the previous year.

The FRUIT on the pond cypress come in the form of oval shaped cones. Each cone grows to a length between 1 and 3 inches and turn from a purplish color when young to a brown color when ripened. The cones attract birds and squirrels.

The TRUNK grows perfectly straight and is covered in light brown, furrowed BARK. Near the base of the tree the trunk tends to grow really thick, which provides the needed extra support in its wet habitat.

The durable wood of the Pond Cypress is used in construction of many objects that are subject to weather and come in contact with the ground, such as pens and fence posts.