Asked on Nov 27, 2013
"Nuts" that form and fall off bald cypress in fall until going dormant
by
Julie B
+6
Wehave 2 bald cypress trees that form what looks like pecan nuts in the fall andsome even stay on the tree through the winter after the leaves drop. When youbust one of these open, it looks like pieces of meat (so to speak) just likethe meat of a pecan. I was wondering if that could be harvested in some way toget a start on another tree???? I live in central Oklahoma. Well I tried to add a photo but for some reason it won't take it.
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Hi are these nuts flat?
Sallie
Do I place the whole seed unopened in the soil?
The "nuts" you see are actually the cones of the bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), which is a deciduous conifer, and the "meats" are the seeds themselves. Under ideal conditions these seeds will produce a new tree. I must caution you, however, that it is hard to create these ideal conditions. Because the bald cypress is native to moist areas, the seeds only germinate in moist to wet soil. The caveat is that is cannot be moist to wet for too long. Here is one strategy you might try, which was posted on GardenWeb: "Plant lots of seeds in 5 gallon pots with heavy topsoil - January (this works in Z8). Place pots outside in washtub. Fill tub with water to level of topsoil in pots. About May-June begin to let water evaporate down to half-way mark of pots. Germination usually follows. Heavy topsoil needed here as some potting soils might float off if water level exceeds level of soil. Unlike most conifers, Bald Cypress do not need well draining potting soil. Once the seedlings have germinated, they can be transplanted into separate pots for continued grow." Obviously you may need to adjust the timing based on your zone and location. Since you have the trees (which are a favorite of mine, by the way) you have nothing to lose by trying. Good luck, and let us know how your experiment goes.
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