Wondering what kind of a Pine tree this is ?

Out on my ventures Saturday we came across this Pine type tree, it grows like a real tree not in a Christmas tree shape, its very aromatic (Pine) and it has these weird round type things growing on it. And would this be poisonous to cats etc if I use it to decorate indoors. I really love the look of this stuff its like fir tree pine but miniature. I took some from a sucker growning on the side of the trunk, It also has some redish tone to some of it. Do you think I can root a piece? I can always count on my Hometalk friends to help me out and I truly appreciate your expert advice, thanks so much.
  18 answers
  • Danielle Danielle on Nov 02, 2014
    There used to be such trees back where I lived as a child. And I remember the cats climbing it all day, so it's not poisonous in any way. Also, I remember some of these being far from miniature. I am not quite the expert you look for but I think you can root a piece and you are doing it right.
  • Danielle Danielle on Nov 02, 2014
    I also think they did grow small red berry-like stuff. I cannot figure how we called it but our parents advised not to eat them because they are poisonous so maybe it's what you are speaking about. But the cats were clever enough, so watch out if you have small children around.
  • Rhonda B Rhonda B on Nov 02, 2014
    It looks to be a Taxodium distichum aka Bald Cypress which is not toxic to animals. I do not know if you can root it from the cuttings you have but if the seeds are ripened you can grow them from seed. They are easy to sprout. Hope this helps!
  • Teresa Petersen Sjostrom Teresa Petersen Sjostrom on Nov 03, 2014
    As far as I can see it is not a pine tree.It is a red fur .I do not believe it would be poisonous to your animals.And they can grow quite large.
  • Melinda Abraham Melinda Abraham on Nov 03, 2014
    Cypress
  • Rhonda McCollum Rhonda McCollum on Nov 03, 2014
    My Sister has one in her front yard and they call it a Bald Cypress. The San Antonio area has many of these and yes they grow very large. I wanted one because they change beautiful colors in the Fall of the year, but alas, it would be much too big for my small yard.
  • NancyLee NancyLee on Nov 03, 2014
    Looks more like a spruce type than a pine to me.
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Nov 03, 2014
    That is definitely a Taxodium. It is possible to root them from cuttings, but the older the tree that the cuttings are taken from is, the harder it is. Also, our cypresses are about to lose their leaves (they are deciduous conifers), so you would probably have better luck trying in the spring just after they leaf out. While it may look like a miniature fir tree, a mature bald cypress can reach 50 to 75 feet in a landscape setting, twice that in nature.
  • Dee Dee on Nov 03, 2014
    Looks like a cypress tree to me. I have one in my front yard.
  • Gail Gail on Nov 03, 2014
    According to my book "North American Wild Life" that I purchased from Reader's Digest ages ago it is a Bald Cyprus. That book has several sections each labeled animals, birds, reptiles, fish, insects, trees, wildflowers and ferns. It has been my go to book for things I find on walks especially in the woods.
  • Thankyou to everyone that helped by answering my questions really appreciate it!
  • Laurali M Laurali M on Nov 03, 2014
    I agree with all the cypress ID'ers out there they are all over the place here
  • My son came home with a bald cypress the size of a pencil for arbor day 13 years ago. It now is 30 feet tall and growing beautifully. The softness of the foliage is wonderful to the touch and sight. Just this year it started producing the ugly knobby knees out by the drip line. If they keep popping up, i am thinking of hacking away at the knobs or cutting it down even though I love this tree.
    • See 2 previous
    • Dixie Dixie on Dec 20, 2016

      Flowerscapes! Don't kill it. Just mow over the knees. The gardeners in my townhome complex have done it for years and they all survive and thrive!

  • I know DH. The problem is that many kids cut through my yard right there to the next street and even next neighborhood. They also play ditch and other games out there at night. If the knees keep growing outward, it can be very dangerous for these kids. I cut flowers with them to bring home for their moms, watch dragon flies at my pond and the creek. I even set up fairy trails for them, and neighbors often take family and prom pictures in my yard. This is for more precious than my beloved tree. I guess it is time for me to check to see if there is a way to prevent the knees. Maybe they come up looking for oxygen when there is too much rain water?
  • Myrna Engle Myrna Engle on Nov 08, 2014
    Cypress naturally grows in places that give it a steady supply of water. Drought takes out many that have been planted in less than moist areas.
  • Dixie Dixie on Dec 20, 2016

    Bald Cypress are great trees in that they are virtually drought-resistant on the Texas Gulf Coast. So far as the "knees" are concerned, the gardeners in my townhome complex just mow over them when they first appear. It doesn't seem to kill them and has been going on for at least 15 years.

  • There are some neighborhood kids that run through my yard at night and I don't want them tripping on the knees. I will try mowing if they pop up again. I loosened up the soil to provide better oxygen for the tree and that has helped this year. If I ever have to take it down, the area will be perfect for native azaleas and fern grotto.