Taxodium distichum 'Secrest'

Secrest Baldcypress is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its interestingly mounded form. It has attractive green deciduous foliage which emerges light green in spring. The ferny bipinnately compound leaves are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding gold in the fall. The shaggy antique red bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Secrest Baldcypress is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a mounded form. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which can make it a great accent feature on this basis alone.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Planting & Growing

Secrest Baldcypress will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 80 years or more.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It is an amazingly adaptable plant, tolerating both dry conditions and even some standing water. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species.