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Swampy cypress grows in the wild in areas with a subtropical climate, but you can even try planting this strange plant in your own summer cottage. The tree is characterized by rapid growth, prefers a humid, warm climate and requires virtually no maintenance.
Description of swamp cypress
Swamp cypress (Taxodium birowdum) is a deciduous coniferous tree belonging to the Cypress family. Its height reaches 30-36 meters, the thickness of the trunk in diameter can vary from 1 to 5 m. Swamp cypress is considered a long-liver, the life period of the plant is 500-600 years.
The trunk of young trees is cambered, the crown is narrow pyramidal. With age, the trunk of the swamp cypress acquires a cylindrical shape, and the crown becomes a pyramidal or widely spread shape. The bark of the tree is 10 to 15 cm thick, dark red-brown in color, and has deep longitudinal cracks. Shoots can be elongated or shortened.
The delicate, slightly sagging shoots of swamp cypress are strewn with soft, feathery, linear leaves of a light green hue, which have a rounded sharp top and resemble needles in appearance. The length of the leaves is 16 - 18 mm, thickness - 1.5 mm, arrangement - two-row (comb-shaped). In autumn, the foliage of the swamp cypress acquires a reddish, rusty color and falls off along with shortened shoots.
Round green cones with a diameter of 1.5 to 4 cm, which are formed from spirally arranged scales, also ripen on the shoots of cypress. Taxodium is a monoecious plant. Female cones grow at the ends of shoots. After ripening, they acquire a brown tint and crumble. Under the scales there are 2 seeds. Male cones are located on the upper branches of the previous year, the length of which is approximately 10 - 14 cm.
The roots of the swamp cypress form unusual outgrowths on the surface, which have a conical or bottle-shaped shape and are called respiratory roots - pneumatophores. They are capable of rising several meters above water or a marshy soil surface, supplying the underground parts of the plant with air. Trees growing in drier soil do not have such roots.
Swamp cypress feels comfortable in moist soils without lime, loves light and calmly tolerates cold temperatures down to -30 oC. Taxodium is extremely resistant to rot and many pests and diseases. However, swamp cypress does not tolerate polluted, gassed air. The plant does not tolerate drought.
Where does swamp cypress grow?
In nature, swamp cypress is often found along the banks of sluggish rivers. Swamp cypress also grows in the southeastern swamps of North America.The plant was brought to Europe in the 17th century, but swamp cypress came to Russia only in 1813.
In 1934, on an artificial dam in the river gorge. Sukko created a cypress grove consisting of 32 trees. Currently, Cypress Lake is considered a monument of regional significance.
Swamp cypress is able to grow in soil with high levels of humidity, in river deltas. You can meet swamp cypress in natural conditions in the Danube Delta, in Crimea. Currently, the crop is actively grown in the regions of Central Asia and Uzbekistan. The Krasnodar Territory, Kuban and the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus are also recommended for cultivation.
Swamp cypress in landscape design
Swamp cypress is considered a valuable forest species; recently, the exotic tree is increasingly used in landscape design as a park plant. It is ideal for decorating ponds and forming park alleys. Swamp cypress will feel comfortable in swampy, flooded areas, in oxygen-depleted soil.
In combination with swamp cypress, Virginia juniper, beech, cedar, ferns, sequoia, oak, maple, linden, hops, birch, willow and pine look good. It is not recommended to plant the plant next to larch. When forming a coniferous composition, it should be oriented in a western or eastern direction.
Planting and caring for swamp cypress
Despite the fact that taxodium loves light and needs bright light in winter, it needs light partial shade in hot summer.For planting swamp cypress, the south side of the site would be a good choice. The tree quickly grows to a large size, so the seating area should be quite spacious.
Preference should be given to moist soil; taxodium can be planted in an area next to a small lake or pond. In such conditions the plant will feel most comfortable. Planting is done in the spring, before the buds begin to bloom on the trees.
Preparing seedlings and planting area
Swamp cypress is quite picky about the composition of the soil. It requires well-moistened and nutrient-enriched sandy loam soil with a neutral acidity level. Taxodium does not like lime. The ideal soil mixture is:
- from 2 parts of humus;
- 2 parts of turf;
- 2 parts peat;
- 1 part river sand.
Taxodium should not be replanted with bare roots. When purchasing a seedling, you need to check that there is a lump of earth on the root system and packaging made of canvas or burlap.
Landing rules
Landing algorithm:
- Dig a hole for planting. Swamp cypress has a powerful root system, so the depth of the planting hole should be at least 80 cm.
- Drain the hole with sand or crushed bricks. The recommended thickness of the drainage layer is at least 20 cm.
- Add nitrophoska at the rate of 200 - 300 g per tree.
- Place the seedling in the hole so that the root connects to the stem at soil level. It is important not to damage the earthen ball when transplanting.
- Once transplanted, swamp cypress will take some time to establish itself. During this period, the plant should be watered regularly and abundantly.
Watering and fertilizing
In the summer, swamp cypress needs abundant watering; one plant will require at least 8 - 10 liters of water. Sprinkling in summer should be done at least 2 times a month. Water the plant once a week, and on sandy soil - every other day.
After planting, taxodium should be fed annually with Kemira-universal fertilizer at the rate of 150 mg per 1 sq. m. After three years, it is recommended to fertilize once every 2 - 3 years.
Mulching and loosening
Swamp cypress does not need to loosen the soil, because it has respiratory roots - pneumatophores, which provide the plant with the necessary air. Gently loosen the soil only if a crust has formed on the surface of the ground after spring thaws and melting snow: this will help taxodium to better absorb and retain moisture.
To mulch taxodium, the following are used: pine needles, pine bark, sawdust, straw and hay. Swamp cypress must be mulched after planting; young trees are also recommended to be mulched for the winter.
Trimming
Taxodium does not need pruning. You can even say that pruning branches is contraindicated for this plant: after such a procedure, it becomes more difficult for it to adapt to sudden autumn temperature changes and survive the winter. Shortened shoots, along with needles, fall off on their own in the autumn.
Preparing for winter
Adults easily tolerate wintering and short-term cold snaps below -30 oC. Young trees are too weak and fragile; they have a hard time surviving winter frosts, so they need additional protection.To prepare young plantings for winter? they must be mulched with a layer of dry foliage approximately 10 cm thick.
Reproduction
In nature, reproduction of swamp cypress is carried out through seeds. In a summer cottage, taxodium is, as a rule, more often propagated by cuttings and grafting. However, the best option is to buy ready-made seedlings in special containers. Transplantation to a permanent place should be done only at a young age, since taxodium is characterized by rapid growth of the tap root.
When planting seeds for hardening, it is worth stratifying them. To do this, they must be placed in the refrigerator and stored at a temperature from +1 to +5 oC within 2 months. To sow seeds, peat, river sand and forest litter are mixed in equal parts. The depth of the seed box must be at least 15 cm, otherwise the taproot begins to bend as it grows, and this leads to the death of the plant. After a few years, the seedlings will be ready for transplanting.
Diseases and pests
Swamp cypress is considered extremely resistant to diseases and pests, and is threatened only by some varieties of hermes. If insects are detected, the affected parts of the shoots are cut off and burned. The remaining pests are washed off with strong water pressure.
Rot and various types of fungi characteristic of wetlands are not dangerous for Taxodium: water is considered the plant’s native home. It is only important to ensure that the tree bark does not crack.
Conclusion
Swamp cypress is an exotic tree that produces landscape compositions of extraordinary beauty.Caring for it is not difficult, since all the plant requires is well-moistened, swampy soil and regular watering.
