Pond Cypress

Arbor Walk #95, TreeKeeper ID #5772

Native to the southeastern U.S., the Pond Cypress is a member of the Taxodium genus. It has deeply furrowed barks and slender needles that emerge from erect shoots. The Pond Cypress has a unique ecology. It is able to tolerate blackwater rivers, swamps, and ponds. The Pond Cypress can reach up to 70’ tall and 20’ wide. It is known for its incredible longevity, with some individuals being several thousands of years old. Part of the reason for this is due to their fire resistant, thick bark. Although not native to St Louis, the tree is adaptable to increasingly humid conditions. The Pond Cypress is also crucial for the ecosystem, as they provide areas for birds to lay their nests as well as hunting grounds for birds of prey. 

Common NamePond Cypress
Latin NameTaxodium ascendens
Indigenous Name(s) 
Cultivar/Variety
Commercial Name 
Global Distribution
Where to find Arbor Walk #95 on WashU campus
Our Pond Cypress in space
GPS Coordinates

N/A

Percent Concrete

N/A

Distance to Buildings
YearClose Building #1Close Building #2Close Building #3
Distance to Other Species
YearClose Species #1Close Species # 2Close Species # 3
Our Pond Cypress through time
Standard Measurements
YearHeight (m)DBH (cm)Caliper (m)Crown Diameter N-S (m)Crown Diameter E-W (m)Average Crown Diameter (m)
20236.512.8N/A3.794.123.955
Nests and Pests
YearDescription
2023N/A
How to identify a Pond Cypress
Leaf Identification

The leaves of the Pond Cypress are dull green flat needles that are 1/4″ long on average and cling to the twig. They are sharp at the tip. In the fall, they turn to a rust color.

Twig and Bud Identification

The twig is completely covered by overlapping leaves. The branch that the twigs branch from is brown and scaly with vertical stripes. The budding twigs look like small brown knobs that stick out of the branch.

Bark Identification

The bark of the Pond Cypress is reddish-brown with long vertical flaky scales. The scales form thin furrows.

Cone Identification

The ovulate cones of the Pond Cypress are roughly globular, with irregularly shaped and ridged fused segments that slightly fissure as they mature from light green to brown. The staminate cones are on hanging catkins and are dark brown.

Relationship of Taxodium ascendens to other species in the arboretum
Additional resources on the Pond Cypress

Take a look around Arbor Walk Tree #95