Archive for Bald

Can I plant a Taxodium in my landscape?

30 Dec 2011

No Comment  Bald, Cypress, Taxodium Distichum

Question by John W: Can I plant a Taxodium in my landscape?
I want to plant a Taxodium Distichum Bald Cypress in my landscape, but I am afraid that it will cast to much shade on my other sun loving plants. It would be about 20′ from my cercis Oklahoma and my mexican pine. The cultavar is called, Shawnee Brave which grows about 80′ high and about 20′ wide when it is fully grown. It grows upright with a somwhat pyramidal habit. It is would be on a lot about 60′ wide and 150′ deep and placed some where in the middle of the lot. What do you think about this plant? Thanks

Best answer:

Answer by davidb196
Bald Cypress are very open trees, their leaves like feathers, your other plants should get plenty of sun light with the new addition

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Are Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) cones edible ?

01 Oct 2011

No Comment  Bald, Cypress, Taxodium Distichum

Question by Guma Kawauso: Are Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) cones edible ?
The Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum), specifically the cultivar known as Monarch of Illinois grows locally. Since Cypress and Juniper are related, is it possible to use the cones from the Bald Cypress as a substitute for Juniper berries in cooking recipes?

Other than the fact that edible products from pine trees can potentially cause miscarriages, is there anything else to be aware of?
Oh! And by edible, I don’t mean munch on it like popcorn, but rather use it like one would use a bay leaf or cinnamon stick. More of a flavoring and something you’d eat.

Best answer:

Answer by Brigitte H
Taxodium distichum is reported as not edible and its only use – beside as ornamental tree – is that resin in the cones is used as an analgesic for wounds.

The analysis of volatile oil of cones:

http://www.thegoodscentscompany.com/gca/gc1081511.html

is quite different from that one of Juniperus communis:
a-pinene, camphene, b-pinene, sabinene, myrcene, a-phellandrene, a-terpinene, y-terpinene, 1,4-cineole, b-phellandrene, p-cymene, terpinen-4-ol, bornyl acetate, cayophyllene and trace amounts of limonene, camphor, linalool, linalyl acetate, borneol and nerol.

Therefore it`s not applicative to substitute it.

Other uses of Bald Cypress:

http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Taxodium+distichum

Ps
The ingredients are not toxic or harmful in small portion as used to spice, but do you really like the taste?
Should be the best to try a driblet before ruining a complete dish.

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