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Swamp cypress

Taxodium distichum

Also called Bald cypress

Garden plant · Trees

Plant it in the wettest corner you have, or beside water. Standing in it, an old one pushes woody knees up out of the mud around itself — nothing else in a British garden does that.

Care at a glance

Ease
Easy
Water
Every 3 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
Light
Full sun, in ground that stays wet
Feed
Not needed
Humidity
High
Hardiness
Very hardy RHS H7, to -25°C
Size
20 m tall · 6 m across
Lifecycle
Tree
Origin
The south-eastern United States

Is it safe for pets and people?

PetsNothing recorded against it

No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.

PeopleNot checked yet

Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.

Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-11. Where a source says nothing, we say nothing.

A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

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