Cypress seedlings are available

     Does your yard have that one special tree that acts as a focal point, drawing attention to itself because of its unusual shape or color? If not, the bald cypress may be the tree you are looking for.

     Bald cypress trees can be an eye-catching addition to an Iowa landscape, having soft, feathery needles that add to the overall beauty of the tree. Usually considered a southern U.S. species, the tree is well suited to growing in Iowa. Bald cypress (Taxodium Distichum) is a conifer, but unlike most cone-bearing trees, it is deciduous. Their light green needles drop off in the fall after turning a showy rusty orange color.

     Often found growing in shallow water areas, the trunks of the bald cypress noticeably flare out at the base. In wet ground they develop knobby root growths called knees, which rise just above the surface of the water.

     You don’t have to live in a wetland to start growing your own bald cypress, however. With care, these trees can thrive in Iowa’s drier, upland soils found in U.S. hardiness zones 4 through 9. Ideally, soil should be acidic, moist and sandy. As a bonus, they are not usually bothered by insect pests or diseases. Bald cypress do grow slowly, but they mature into giants, so it is important to make sure you have plenty of room wherever you plant them. Of course, you will only be able to imagine your tree as the 120-foot monster it will become in 600 years.

     Besides being an attractive tree, the bald cypress has many conservation benefits. Their roots help hold soil in place and can prevent erosion of stream banks by soaking up excess water. They also function as filters by removing many of the pollutants found in water. These trees are important to wildlife by providing shelter, especially for deer, and offering birds and ducks high nesting areas and seeds to eat.

     Although not usually found in local nurseries, the Jones Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has a limited number of bald cypress seedlings for sale as part of their annual tree sale fundraiser. To find out what other trees are for sale or to get and order form, stop by our office in the USDA Service Center at 300 Chamber Drive in Anamosa, find Jones SWCD on Facebook, or give us a call at 319-462-3196, ext. 3.