Swamp Cypress

The Swamp Cypress (Taxodium distichum) is the tree to plant where the ground stays wet and everything else has drowned. It is a deciduous conifer reaching around 15m tall and 6m wide, holding a narrow upright shape, and it turns rust and copper before dropping its soft needles in autumn. Very few large trees will grow in a boggy corner. This one prefers it.

Why you'll love it

• It thrives in wet ground. Waterlogged soil, dam edges and low spots that never quite dry out are all within its tolerance.
• Autumn colour on a conifer. The fine foliage turns rusty orange before it falls, which is unusual in a needled tree.
• Fast growing and frost hardy. It puts on height quickly and shrugs off hard winters, so cool climate gardens are well served.
• Tall without being wide. At 15m by 6m it gives height and shade from a modest footprint on the ground.

Where it works best

Shade tree in difficult ground. Dam banks, creek flats, drainage swales and any part of the block that stays soggy after rain. It is equally happy in ordinary garden soil that is watered well.

Feature planting. The upright form and fine texture read as formal without clipping, and the seasonal change gives a bare winter silhouette followed by fresh green in spring.

Driveways and avenues. Space trees 6m to 8m apart along a drive so mature canopies just touch. Wind tolerance means an exposed rural entry is no obstacle.

Growing Swamp Cypress in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate and subtropical gardens, and being frost hardy it handles the tablelands, inland districts and cold southern winters without protection.

Soil. Almost anything, including heavy clay and permanently wet ground. It is one of the few trees that will not rot with its roots underwater, though it grows perfectly well in normal free draining soil too.

Water and feed. Generous water suits it, so this is not the tree to plant somewhere you intend to leave dry. Water deeply twice a week through the first two summers, and feed with a complete slow release fertiliser in early spring while it is young.

Pruning. Keep the single central leader intact, since that is what produces the classic upright shape. Remove lower branches gradually if you want clearance beneath, and otherwise leave it alone.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow this one in three sizes: 45L, 100L and 200L. The 45L is a well formed young tree, the sensible choice if you are planting several along a drive. The 100L and 200L sizes arrive with serious height already on them, which is what most people want for a single feature.

All three travel upright and are freighted at cost as advanced and large stock. Being deciduous, a tree delivered in winter will arrive bare, which is normal rather than a fault. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the conifer range
• What to plant in a waterlogged garden
• Trees and shrubs for autumn colour
• Advanced trees for instant height

Common questions

Can I plant it in standing water?

Yes, and it is one of the very few large trees that can. Permanently wet soil, dam edges and seasonal flooding are all fine once the tree is established.

Does it really lose its leaves?

It does. This is a deciduous conifer, so the needles turn rusty orange and fall each autumn, leaving a bare structural outline through winter. New growth returns in spring.

How fast does it grow?

It is a fast grower for a conifer, particularly with reliable moisture and a sunny position. Growth slows once it approaches full height, but expect real progress in the early years.

Will the roots be a problem near pipes?

Give it room. A tree of this size with a preference for water should be kept well away from drains, septic systems and paving, so allow at least 6m of clearance from services.