Taxodium distichum or bald cypress is a fast-growing deciduous high-stem conifer. This tree, originating from North America, reaches a height of 45 meters.
The trunk of this giant can be 3 to 5 meters in diameter. Harveng near Marchienne Castle is home to the largest bald cypress in Europe with a height of over 35 meters and a trunk circumference of 9 meters.
In older trees, breathing roots grow vertically from the ground at the height of the trunk.
This does not happen quickly in Europe, only with plants that are very wet.
The growth form is pyramidal and is best planted as a solitary plant, the trunk is great the bark is red / brown in color and discolored to gray later.
Nice is that the old bark is peeling with long strips.
This giant tree is beautifully fresh green from early spring to autumn.
An ideal plant that provides shade in the garden in the summer. In the winter she lets the sun through because she is deciduous.
In the autumn the tree changes color very nicely to yellow and orange and in the winter it loses all its leaves.
In the month of May, inconspicuous kittens appear on the tree and form fruit later in the season. These fruits are egg shaped up to 2.5 cm in size and green to red / brown.
Despite the enormous height that the tree can reach, it is very wind resistant.
The roots are well anchored in the ground.
The Taxodium distichum is a fast-growing tree that can be planted on normal soil but also on wet soil. The bald cypress is very hardy.
Winter hardiness zone 5b (-25ºC).