How to Start a Bald Cypress From Seed

Even the mightiest bald cypress begins as a tiny seed.

The bald cypress tree grows primarily in the southeastern areas of the United States and can reach more than 130 feet tall and 13 feet wide if grown in proper conditions. Bald cypress seeds will not often germinate outdoors, where moisture levels and temperatures are unpredictable, so they should be started indoors.

Things You'll Need

• Planting pot
• Starter soil

Instructions

1. Fill a 6- or 8-inch planting pot with well-draining seed starting soil, available from garden centers and nurseries. Make sure the planting pot has drainage holes so that excess water can escape through the holes.

2. Water the soil so that it is completely moist all the way through and excess water runs from the drainage holes. Bald cypress seeds will not germinate in dry soil or in soil that is flooded, which is why drainage holes are important.

3. Bury the seed in the center of the pot five to six months before the final predicted frost date of the spring in your area. For example, if the final frost generally comes in March, you will start the seed in October or November. This gives the seed time to grow into a sapling before being placed outside.

4. Store the pot in a cool room with temperatures between 50 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the pot in a place where it can receive bright but indirect sunlight during the day; too much direct light can burn the seed and will cause the soil to dry out.

5. Check the soil daily and water anytime the top of the soil feels dry to the touch. Always water deeply, until excess water runs from the drainage holes. The seeds will not germinate if the soil is not kept moist.

6. Transplant the young cypress seedling outdoors as soon as the threat of frost has passed in the spring. The tree should be planted in an area in which it can receive at least four hours of sunlight daily. The bald cypress will grow in nearly any soil, including in flooded areas, and there is no extra soil preparation necessary.

7. Water the soil thoroughly around the newly planted seedling so that the roots stretch out and establish. You must plant immediately following the final frost so that the roots establish themselves before any low-water or drought conditions occur in spring or summer. Keep the soil moist at all times.

Tips & Warnings

• It is generally easier to purchase a bald cypress seedling from a garden center or nursery and plant it in early spring, as soon as the soil is thawed. This will avoid the constant maintenance required for the germination stage of the seed.

References

• South Carolina Department of Natural Resources: Bald Cypress
• University of Florida Extension Service; Planting Cypress; Susan W. Vince and Mary L. Duryea