The pool cypress , Taxodium ascendens , is a alone case of cypress tree , deciduous in nature and aboriginal to North America , specifically found in the southeast United States , from as far north as Delaware and Virginia to Florida and west to Louisiana . It is close consort with the Everglades . Unlike most coniferous tree that stay evergreen , the pond cypress is a deciduous deceiver . It exuviate its bright unripened , acerate leaf - like leaves every fall , putting on a blazing display of orange , brown , and gold foliage before pass bare for winter .
This tree can grow well in both pixilated and dry condition . The body is expanded at the base , even on young trees , serve the tree diagram in anchor in soft , soggy ground . The leaves of the Pond Cypress are more acerate leaf - shaped and are arranged in a spiral pattern that continue stuffy to the bow , distinguishing it from other cypress species . These leaf are deciduous , turning an attractive light brown in downslope before dropping . The Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree also produce cone that are smaller than those of the bald cypress , not exceeding 2.5 cm in diam .
The bark of the Pond Cypress is coarser and thick than that of its cousin , the bald cypress tree . The bark is usually of a paler gray color . Like bald cypresses , pond cypresses growing in piss have a characteristic growth trait call in cypress human knee ; these are woody projections ( pneumatophores ) place above the water system from the roots , in all probability enabling this plant to emit air in habitat with sloppy grease . Maximum seniority of this industrial plant is reckon at 1,000 long time .
Pond Cypress Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree are considered fast growers , especially when young . They can farm up to 2 - 3 feet per year in ideal conditions . Their ontogenesis rate may slow down as they mature , but they can still remain to grow for centuries . There is some argument about the inception of the Pond Cypress . Some plant scientist class it as a distinct specie , while others turn over it a variety of the Bald Cypress ( Taxodium distichum ) .
Unlike its sprawling bald-headed cypress cousin , the pond cypress tree has a more just and symmetrical fork design . The arm be given to grow at right angle to the main trunk , produce a narrowly conical or columnlike shape .
Other Characteristics
Habitat
Pond cypress occurs naturally in shallow pool , lake margins , swamp and wetlands . It prefers crocked , badly drained and acidic soils , at an EL of 0–30 meters above ocean tier . The pond cypress preferent habitat is along the bank of pool and lakes where the water is dead . This Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is aboriginal to southern swamps , bayous and river , and is known to tolerate extended periods of intense flooding .
pool cypress are most frequently get hold in isolated depressions fed by nutrient piteous , shallow ground water . Taxodium ascendens grow easily in ordinary , medium to wet , wet - retentive but reasonably well - run out territory in full Dominicus . It prefer moist , acidic , sandlike soils , but tolerates a wide range of soil conditions ranging from modal wet soils to wet soils in stand urine .
