The Bald cypress is truly a majestic tree. It is the tallest tree east of the Rockies, and will grow to be 150 feet tall and more than 6 feet in diameter. The leaves of the Bald Cypress are flat and grow on each side of the horizontal branchlets, which the Bald Cypress looses in the winter season, thus the origination of the name, Bald Cypress.

There is another Cypress called the Pond Cypress and is similar but does not grow as tall and has a leaf that is slightly different. The interesting thing is that these two varieties of trees can interbreed which causes many varied characteristics to show on the newly derived tree.

The Bald Cypress is a fast growing tree with thin tight bark and the Pond Cypress is a slow growing tree with shaggy bark. The Bald Cypress also grows in areas with flowing water while the Pond Cypress prefers to grow in still or slow moving water.

Both Cypress species are well known for their “knees” and their large buttressed trunks. It is believed that Cypress trees have been present in Southwest Florida for over 5000 years and some of the trees seen today are over 500 years old.

It is known that just about a hundred years ago, Native Americans created enormous dugout canoes from these huge trees. These canoes were large enough to carry 20 to 30 men at a time and transport them across the Straits of Florida to trade with Cuba.

Today the harvesting of Cypress trees is used for two specific industries, lumber and landscaping mulch. Thetrees are also very beneficial to wildlife, recreation, wastewater recycling, flood control and groundwater recharging.

So the next time you spot a Cypress tree, think about how important they are to us and to our ecological system. Be sure and visit the Six Mile Cypress Slough (pronounced “slew”) Preserve in Ft. Myers to learn more.